Zaniza Zapotec


Zaniza Zapotec is an Oto-Manguean language of western Oaxaca, Mexico. It is one of several Zapotec languages called Papabuco. It has only 10% intelligibility with Texmelucan Zapotec, its closest important relative.
The language is spoken in Santa María Zaniza, Oaxaca. As of 2003, the language had about 400 fluent speakers. It is also spoken in Santiago Textitlán.

Phonology

LabialAlveolarRetroflexPalatalVelarGlottal
Stopfortisptk, kw
lenisbdg, gw
Affricatefortisʧ
lenisʤ
Fricativefortisfsʂʃh, hw
leniszʐʒ
Tapɾ
Nasalmnɲ
Liquidlʎ
Guidewj

Zaniza Zapotec has five vowels /i, e, a, o, u/, phonemic vowel nasalization, and a distinction between modal and laryngealized vowels.

Tone

Zaniza Zapotec words contrast low, mid, and high tones on stressed syllables. Unstressed syllables, apart from a few pronominal enclitics, do not bear contrastive tone.