The Maxakalían languages were first classified into the Gê languages. It was only in 1931 that Loukotka separated them from the Gê family. Alfred Métraux and Curt Nimuendaju Unkel considered the Maxakalían family isolated from others. John Alden Mason suggests a connection with the Macro-Gê stock, confirmed by Aryon Dall’Igna Rodrigues.
Languages
Apart from extinct varieties generally seen as dialects of Maxakalí, Mason noted resemblances with a few other extinct languages of the area: Pataxó, Malalí and Coropó. However, Coropó is now thought to be a Purian language. Campbell therefore lists the Maxakalian languages as:
Malalí'
Pataxó'
Maxakalí
Glottolog restores Coropó as a Maxakalían language.
Nikulin (2020)
Nikulin proposes the following internal classification of the Maxakalían languages: ;Maxakalí
Maxakalí is a sister of Krenák and possibly also Kamakã. Together, they form a Trans-São Francisco branch within the Macro-Jê language phylum in Nikulin's classification.
Ramirez (2015)
Internal classification of the Maxakali languages according to Ramirez, et al. :
Currently, Maxakali is the only living language, while all other languages are extinct. Pataxó as documented by Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied in 1816 is distinct from Pataxó-Hãhãhãe. Pataxó-Hãhãhãe was spoken into the 20th century and has been documented by Meader, Loukotka, and Silva & Rodrigues. Many Maxakalian varieties are attested only from 19th-century word lists, some of which are:
Mashacari
Kapoxó
Monoxó
Makoni
Malali
Loukotka (1968)
Below is a full list ofMashakali languages and dialects listed by Loukotka, including names of unattested varieties. ;Western
Batum - once spoken between the Doce River and Conceição River.
;Eastern
Patasho - originally spoken between the Jequitinhonha River and São Francisco River in the state of Minas Gerais; the last survivors became extinct on the right shore of the Jequitinhonha River, Espirito Santo.
Tocoyó - extinct language originally spoken in the valley of the Araçuaí River and near Minas Novas de Fanado in the state of Minas Gerais, later on the right bank of the Jequitinhonha River in the state of Espirito Santo.
Maquinuca - once spoken near the Salto Grande on the Jequitinhonha River.
Canarin - once spoken on the Caravelas River and Mucuri River, state of Espirito Santo.
Tucanuçú - once spoken south of the Jequitinhonha River near Campos de Caatinga.