Kamëntšá language

Kamëntšá, commonly rendered Camsá or Sibundoy in old sources,^[2] is a language isolate and native language of the Kamëntšá people who primarily inhabit the Sibundoy Valley of the Putumayo Department in the south of Colombia.

Classification

Kamëntšá appears to be a language isolate. Researchers have tried connecting it to the Chibchan languages without success. Fabre reports that the Kamëntšá are descended, at least in part, from the Quillasinga, whose language is unattested.^[3]

Language contact

Jolkesky notes that there are lexical similarities with the Choco languages due to contact.^[4]

Varieties

Mason lists the following names as Coche (Mocoa) varieties.^[5]

• Sebondoy
• Quillacinga
• Patoco

Phonology

Consonants

1. ^ Only in loanwords

Howard and O'Brien call the retroflex phonemes in the above table retroflex, while Huber & Reed use the alveolo-palatal symbols. More specifically, Howard uses and ,^[6] O'Brien uses and ,^[7] and Huber & Reed use and .^[8]

Vowels

Huber & Reed, Howard, and O'Brien all analyze six vowel phonemes in Kamëntšá: a, e, i, o, u, and ɨ.^[8][9][10] O'Brien notes that /ɨ/ has a limited distribution and is rarely found at the beginnings of words,^[11] and that i in many cases may be an allophone of e before palatal consonants.^[12] Howard found that i and e fluctuate in some morphemes, as do u and o.^[13]

Grammar

Kamëntšá is a polysynthetic language with prefixes and suffixes.^[14] It also has dual number, which is unusual for languages around it.^[15][14]

Vocabulary

Huber & Reed's book provides a comparison between 68 indigenous languages of Colombia.^[16] The following table provides the order of words in the book, along with glosses in English and Spanish. The Kamëntšá words follow their orthography, i.e., using and instead of and .

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! no. !! English gloss !! Spanish gloss !! Camsá !! notes |- | 001 || tongue || lengua || bitʃtá-xa || |- | 002 || mouth || boca || wajá-ɕa || |- | 003 || lip || labio || wajatsebiá-ɕa || |- | 004 || tooth || diente || xuatsá-ɕe || |- | 005 || nose || nariz || tsxá-ɕe || |- | 006 || eye || ojo || bɕnɨ-bé || |- | 007 || ear || oreja || matskuá-ɕe || |- | 008 || head || cabeza || bestɕá-ɕe, betɕá-ɕe || |- | 009 || forehead || frente || xuentsɨɕá-ɕe || |- | 010 || hair || cabello || stxɨnɨ́-xa || |- | 011 || chin || mentón || kumbambɨ́-ɕa || |- | 012 || beard || barba || wangɨtsboboʃɨ́-xua || |- | 013 || neck || cuello || tamoɕá-xa || |- | 014 || chest || pecho || kotʃá-xa || |- | 015 || woman’s breast || teta, seno, pechos || tʃótʃo || |- | 016 || abdomen || vientre, abdomen || wabsbiá || |- | 017 || back || espalda || stɨtɕá-xa || |- | 018 || shoulder || hombro || tantɕá-xa || |- | 019 || arm || brazo || buakuá-tɕe || |- | 021 || elbow || codo || ʃɨmia-bé || |- | 022 || hand || mano || kukuá-tɕe || |- | 023 || finger || dedo de la mano || ntɕabuá-bxa || |- | 024 || fingernail || una || ngétsebia-ɕe || |- | 025 || leg || pierna || mɨntxá-xa || |- | 027 || knee || rodilla || ntsamiá-ɕe || |- | 028 || shin || espinilla || ɕɨbxá-xa || |- | 029 || foot || pie || ʃekuá-tɕe || |- | 030 || toe || dedo del pie || xɨntɕá-bxa || |- | 031 || skin || piel || bobátʃe || |- | 032 || bone || hueso || betá-ɕe, betá-bxa || |- | 033 || blood || sangre || buíɲe || |- | 034 || heart || corazón || ainána || |- | 035 || lungs || pulmones || béxnatse || |- | 036 || penis || pene || lótɕe || |- | 037 || vulva || vulva || salápo || |- | 038 || man || hombre || entɕá (jentɕá) || |- | 039 || male || varón || bojabása || |- | 040 || woman || mujer || ʃembása || |- | 041 || people || gente || entɕánga || |- | 042 || husband || marido, esposo || bojá || |- | 043 || wife || marida, esposa || ʃéma || |- | 044 || father || padre || taitá, bébta || |- | 045 || mother || madre || mamá, bebmá, máma || |- | 046 || baby, infant || criatura || ɕeɕóna, (ɕoɕóna) || |- | 047 || old man || viejo || bɨtsanań || |- | 048 || water || agua || bújeʃe, béxa-je || |- | 049 || river || río || béxa-ke, bʃáxa-je || |- | 051 || lake || lago || wabxaxóna-je || |- | 052 || swamp || pantano || xatɨʃáɲe || |- | 053 || spring of water || fuente, ojo de agua || obaxtʃkaníɲe || |- | 054 || waterfall || caída de agua || buatʃkɨkxaníɲe || |- | 055 || rapids || catarata, raudal || bʃawenaníɲe || |- | 056 || flame, fire || candela, fuego || íɲe, níɲe || |- | 057 || ash || ceniza || xatinjá || |- | 058 || charcoal || carbón || enaxomá-ɕe || |- | 059 || smoke || humo || ngóna || |- | 060 || firewood || leña || niɲá || |- | 061 || sky || cíelo || sel-óka || Spanish loanword |- | 062 || rain || lluvia || wabténa || |- | 063 || wind || viento || bínjia || |- | 064 || sun || sol || ʃínje || |- | 065 || moon || luna || xuaʃkóna || |- | 066 || star || estrella || estrelja-téma || Spanish loanword |- | 067 || day || día || bɨnɨ-té, té || |- | 068 || night || noche || ibéta || |- | 069 || thunder || trueno || waxuesajá || |- | 070 || lightning || relámpago || tkuínje || |- | 071 || rainbow || arco iris || tsɨbkuákuatxo || |- | 072 || earth, soil || tierra || bʃántse || |- | 073 || stone || piedra || ndɨtɕ-bé || |- | 074 || sand || arena || kaskáxo || Spanish loanword |- | 075 || house || casa || jébna || |- | 076 || roof || techo || thɨxnaɲe, bonxanána || |- | 077 || door || puerta || bɨɕá-ɕe || |- | 078 || seat, stool || banco || tɕenɨ́-ɕe || |- | 079 || mat || estera || txuá-ʃe || |- | 080 || hammock || hamaca || uxonjanɨ́-ʃa || |- | 081 || bed || catre, cama de barbacoa || xutsnɨ́-ʃa || |- | 082 || cooking pot || olla || matbá-xa || |- | 083 || cultivated clearing || roza, sementera || xaxáɲe || |- | 084 || village || caserío || pueblo-téma || Spanish loanword |- | 085 || path, trail || camino, sendero, trocha || benátʃe || |- | 086 || fish net || red || ataʒajɨ́-ʃa || Spanish loanword |- | 087 || fish hook || anzuelo || ansuelɨ-bxuá || Spanish loanword |- | 088 || axe || hacha || tatɕnía || Spanish loanword |- | 089 || knife || cuchillo || kutʃiljɨ-bxa || Spanish loanword |- | 090 || canoe || canoa || kanoú-ɕe || |- | 091 || paddle || remo || ʒem-bé || Spanish loanword |- | 092 || club || porra, macana || ngarot-bé || Spanish loanword |- | 093 || spear || lanza || lantsɨ́-ʃa || Spanish loanword |- | 094 || bow || arco de cazar || arkú-bxa || Spanish loanword |- | 095 || arrow || flecha || pletʃɨ-bxuá || Spanish loanword |- | 096 || blowgun || cerbatana || . xuesanɨ-ɕa || |- | 097 || tapir || danta || bɨtsijá || |- | 098 || jaguar || tigre || tígre || Spanish loanword |- | 099 || puma || león, puma || león || Spanish loanword |- | 100 || armadillo || armadillo || armadiljo-bé || |- | 101 || dog || perro || kéɕe || |- | 102 || deer || venado || biángana, móngoxo || |- | 103 || bat || murciélago || tʃimbiláko || |- | 104 || otter || nutria || salado-bé || |- | 105 || cebus monkey (Cebus capucinus) || capuchin, machín || komendéro || Spanish loanword |- | 110 || spotted cavy || paca, guagua || mɨmaɕe || |- | 113 || tortoise || tortuga || tortúga-ɕe || Spanish loanword |- | 115 || collared peccary || saíno || saín kótɕe || Spanish loanword |- | 117 || agouti || agutí || entsóje-ɕe || |- | 118 || rat || rata || ʒáta-tɕe || Spanish loanword |- | 119 || cat || gato || meséto || |- | 120 || mouse || ratón || ʃiéna || |- | 121 || tail || cola || waskuatɕi-xuá || |- | 122 || snake || serpiente, culebra || mɨtɕkuáje || |- | 123 || anaconda, water boa || mapana || amarón || |- | 126 || toad || sapo || sápo || Spanish loanword |- | 127 || bird || pájaro || ʃlóbtɕe || |- | 128 || hummingbird || picaflor, colibrí || ngɨntsiána || |- | 130 || toucan || tucán || pikúdo || |- | 131 || parrot || loro || ʃatúo, ʃatú || |- | 133 || buzzard || gallinazo || ngaljináso || Spanish loanword |- | 134 || curassow || pavo || tʃúmbo || |- | 135 || owl || lechuza, buho || koskúngo || |- | 136 || guan || pava de monte || kukuána || |- | 137 || hen || gallina || tuámba || |- | 138 || fish || pescado || beóna || |- | 140 || bee || abeja || txowána || |- | 141 || fly || mosca || ʃatsɨbiána || |- | 142 || flea || pulga || nzantsána || |- | 143 || louse || piojo || mɨtsána || |- | 144 || mosquito || zancudo || ʃɨngna-bxa || |- | 146 || ant || hormiga || xuána || |- | 147 || spider || arana || báxna, batʃná-ɕe || |- | 148 || jigger flea || nigua, pigue || tsɨtxóna || |- | 149 || bush, jungle || monte || txá-ɲe || |- | 150 || open grassland || pajonal, sabana || xatʃáɲe || |- | 151 || hill || cerro, loma || batsxáɲe || |- | 152 || tree || árbol || betíje, betijé-ʃe || |- | 153 || leaf || hoja || tsbuaná-tʃe || |- | 154 || tree leaf || hoja de árbol || tsbuaná-tʃe || |- | 155 || flower || flor || wantɕebxú-ʃa || |- | 156 || fruit || fruta || ʃaxuan-bé || |- | 158 || root || raíz || tbɨtɨ́-xa || |- | 159 || seed || semilla || xénaje || |- | 160 || stick || palo || niɲɨ́-ɕe || |- | 161 || grass || hierba || ʃákuana || |- | 162 || corn, maize || maíz || mátse || |- | 163 || manioc || yuca || bʃendɨ́-ɕe || |- | 165 || tobacco || tabaco || tbáko || Spanish loanword |- | 166 || cotton || algodón || tongéntse-ʃe || |- | 167 || gourd || calabazo poro || taus-bé || |- | 168 || yam || ñame || tʃaná || |- | 169 || sweet potato || camote || mijá || |- | 170 || achiote || achiote, bija || mandorɨ́-ʃa || |- | 171 || chili pepper || ají || tsɨtɕá || |- | 173 || Banisterium, hallucinogenic vine || ayahuasca, jajé || biaxíje || |- | 174 || plantain || plátano || blandɨ́-tɕa || Spanish loanword |- | 178 || cane || caña brava || ɕɨ́-ɕe || |- | 179 || salt || sal || tamó || |- | 180 || chicha || chicha, masato || bóko-ye || |- | 181 || one || uno || kánje || |- | 182 || two || dos || úta || |- | 183 || three || tres || únga || |- | 184 || four || cuatro || kánta || |- | 185 || five || cinco || ʃátʃna || |- | 190 || ten || diez || bnɨ́tsan || |- | 191 || first || primero || natsána || |- | 192 || last || último || ústonoje || |- | 193 || rattle || sonajero, maraca || marakɨ́-ʃe || Spanish loanword |- | 194 || drum || tambor || ɕɨnxana-bé || |- | 195 || cushma || cushma || ʃabuanguanɨ-xuá || |- | 196 || ear ornament || orejera, arete || wamatsaxonjanɨ́-ʃa || |- | 197 || mask || máscara || xobɨ́tsanɨ-ɕe || |- | 198 || healer, shaman || curandero || tatɕmbuá, jobá || |- | 199 || chief || cacique, curaca, capitán || utabná, mandádo || Spanish loanword |- | 200 || I, me, my || yo, mí usted || átɕe || |- | 201 || you (singular) || usted || áka || |- | 202 || he || él || tʃá || |- | 203 || she || ella || tʃá || |- | 204 || we inclusive || nosotros inclusivo || bɨ́nga || |- | 206 || you plural || ustedes || tɕingabtánga || |- | 207 || they || ellos || tʃɨ́nga || |- | 208 || my hand || mi mano || átɕ-be kukuá-tɕe || |- | 209 || your (sg.) hand || tu mano || ák-be kukuá-tɕe || |- | 210 || his hand || su mano || tʃá-be kukuá-tɕe || |- | 211 || our hands || nuestras manos || bɨng-be kukuá-tɕe || |- | 213 || their hands || sus manos (de ellos) || tʃɨ́ng-be kukuátɕe || |- | 214 || my bow || mi arco || átɕ-be arkú-bxa || Spanish loanword |- | 215 || your bow || tu arco || ák-be arkú-bxa || |- | 216 || his bow || su arco (de él) || tsá-be arkú-bxa || |- | 217 || our bow || nuestro arco || bɨ́ng-be arkú-bxa || |- | 219 || their bow || su arco (de ellos) || tʃɨ́ng-be arkú-bxa || |- | 220 || big || grande || bɨ́ts || |- | 221 || small, little || pequeño || báse, bíntʃe || |- | 222 || cold || frío || ʃék-bana || |- | 223 || hot || caliente || ntɕníɲe || |- | 224 || good || bueno || tɕábe, tɕabá || |- | 225 || bad || malo || baká, bákna sóje || |- | 226 || white || blanco || bxántse || |- | 227 || black || negro || btsénga || |- | 228 || go! || vaya, ve! || m-ó-tsa || |- | 229 || come! || ven! || m-á-bo || |- | 230 || eat! || come! || m-ó-se || |- | 231 || drink! || bebe! || m-o-bɕé || |- | 232 || sleep! || duerme! || m-o-tsámana || |- | 233 || crown of head || corona || tʃinʃ-óka || |- | 234 || front teeth, incisors || dientes delanteros incisivos || btɨɕá-ɕe || |- | 236 || long hair || pelo largo || bɨ́n stxɨná-ʃe || |- | 237 || the neck region || garganta y cuello || bexɨ́ngua-xa || |- | 238 || Adam’s apple || nuez de la garganta || tamoɕtxon-bé || |- | 239 || upper back || espalda, parte superior || stɨtɕá-xa || |- | 241 || wrist || muñeca || ʃɨmia-bé || |- | 242 || lower leg || pierna inferior || ɕɨbxá-tɕe || |- | 243 || body hair || el pelo del cuerpo || bobo-ʃɨ́-xa || |- | 244 || stomach || estómago || wabsbiá || |- | 245 || intestines || intestinos || tʃuntʃuljɨ-xua-ngá || |- | 246 || old woman || viejita || wela-xéma || |- | 247 || clouds at rest || nubes quietas || xantɕetɨ́-ʃe || |- | 249 || cultivated clearing || roza, sementera de maíz || taɕxá-ɲe || |- | 250 || stream || quebrada || báse béxa-je || |- | 251 || pebbles || piedrecillas || ndɨtɕmé-ʃe || |- | 252 || huge rocks || rocas grandes || peɲí-ɕe || Spanish loanword |- | 253 || path, trail || camino, sendero, trocha || axʃatʃnɨxní-ɲe || |- | 255 || shelter || rancho || tambo-téma || |- | 256 || this || este || kém || |- | 257 || that || eso, ese, aquel || tʃɨ́ || |- | 258 || who || quién || ndá, ndmuá || |- | 259 || what || que || ndajá || |- | 260 || not || no || ndóɲe || |- | 261 || all || todos || njćtska || |- | 262 || many || muchos || bɨtská, bá, bá-nga || |- | 263 || long || largo || bɨ́n || |- | 264 || bark || corteza || xubobá-ʃe || |- | 265 || flesh || carne || mɨntɕéna || |- | 267 || grease, animal fat || grasa || minjiká || Spanish loanword |- | 268 || egg || huevo || ʃɨmnɨ-bé || |- | 269 || horn || cuerno || tsɨtxoní-ɕe || |- | 270 || feather || pluma || plumɨ-bxuá || Spanish loanword |- | 271 || elaw, nail || uña, garra || ngétsebia-ɕe || |- | 272 || belly || barriga || wabsbiá || |- | 273 || liver || hígado || bekotʃká || |- | 274 || drink || beber || xatmuána, xobɕiána || |- | 275 || eat || comer || xasána || |- | 276 || bite || morder || xaxantsána || |- | 277 || see || ver || xinjána || |- | 278 || hear || oir || xowenána || |- | 279 || know || saber || xtsetatɕmbuána || |- | 280 || sleep || dormir || xómanana || |- | 281 || die || morir || xóbanana || |- | 282 || kill || matar || xóbana || |- | 283 || swim (not bathe) || nadar || xatʃbabána || |- | 284 || fly || volar || xongébxuana || |- | 285 || walk || andar || xtsanána || |- | 286 || come || venir || xabána || |- | 287 || lie down || acostarse || xtsexáxonana || |- | 288 || sit down || sentarse || xotbemána || |- | 289 || stand || ponerse en pie, de pie || xotsajána || |- | 290 || give || dar || xatɕetajána || |- | 291 || say || decir || xajanána || |- | 292 || burn || quemar, arder || xtsejiɲána || |- | 293 || mountain || montaña || xáɲe || |- | 294 || red || rojo || buángana || |- | 295 || green || verde || ngɨ́bʃna || |- | 296 || yellow || amarillo || tsɨɕijána || |- | 297 || full || lleno || xútxena || |- | 298 || new || nuevo || tsɨ́m || |- | 299 || round || redondo || -bé || |- | 300 || dry || seco || boxóxo, buaʃána || |- | 301 || name || nombre || wabáina || |- | 302 || how || cómo || ntɕámo || |- | 303 || when || cuándo || ntséko, ntséko ora || |- | 304 || where || donde || ndm-óka, ndaj-éntɕe || |- | 305 || here || aquí || mu-éntɕe || |- | 306 || there || allí || tʃ-éntɕe || |- | 307 || other || otro || ínje, injá || |- | 308 || few || poco || batɕá, básebta || |- | 309 || fog || neblina || xantɕetɨ́-ʃe || |- | 310 || flow || fluir || xtsobuána || |- | 311 || sea || mar || már béxa-je || |- | 312 || wet || mojado || btʃékuana || |- | 313 || wash || lavar || xáxabiana || |- | 314 || worm || gusano || tsɨkɨmiána || |- | 315 || wing || ala || xuatɨngmiá-ʃa || |- | 316 || fur || piel peluda || bobo-ʃá, bobó-ʃe || |- | 317 || navel || ombligo || wamɨʃtɨtɨ́-ɕa || |- | 318 || saliva || saliva || jebuá-je || |- | 319 || milk || leche || létɕi-je || Spanish loanword |- | 320 || with || con || -ka, -btaka || |- | 321 || in || en || -óka, -íɲe, -éntɕe || |- | 322 || at || en, lugar definido || -óka || |- | 323 || if || si || -se, -sna || |- | 324 || ice || hielo || jélo || Spanish loanword |- | 326 || freeze || helarse || xtseʃekbána || |- | 327 || child || niño || báse-tema || |- | 328 || dark || oscuro || ibéta || |- | 329 || cut || cortar || kutʃú-j || |- | 330 || wide || ancho || tɨntɕá || |- | 331 || narrow || estrecho, angosto || báse tɨntɕá || |- | 332 || far || lejos || bɨn-óka || |- | 333 || near || cerca || béko-ɲe || |- | 334 || thick || grueso || xoʃá || |- | 335 || thin || delgado || báse xoʃá || |- | 336 || short || corto || béko || |- | 337 || heavy || pesado || teʃut-, úta || |- | 338 || dull || embotado || ndɨ-ngmɨtʃɨ́-bxa || |- | 339 || sharp || afilado || bɕá-xa, ngmitʃɨ́-bxa || |- | 340 || dirty || sucio || tsénga, tsengá || |- | 341 || rotten || podrido || xanguána || |- | 342 || smooth || liso || bɨngɨnjána || |- | 343 || straight || recto || nderítʃe || |- | 344 || correct || correcto || tɕabá || |- | 345 || left || izquierdo || waɲikuaj-ói-ka || |- | 346 || right || derecho || katʃbi-ói-ka || |- | 347 || old || viejo || tángua || |- | 348 || rub || frotar || xanɨtxuána || |- | 349 || pull || jalar, arrastrar || xuasxanána || |- | 350 || push || empujar || xatsɨntɕána || |- | 351 || throw || botar, tirar || xutɕenána || |- | 352 || hit || golpear || xuénanana || |- | 353 || split || hender || xaʃtɨtɕána || |- | 354 || pierce || punzar, chuzar || xangɨsɨtxuána || |- | 355 || dig || cavar || xaxutxuána || |- | 356 || tie || atar || xabátsikana || |- | 357 || sew || coser || xuaxonajána || |- | 358 || fall || caer || xotsatɕána || |- | 359 || swell || hinchar || xabʃatʃána || |- | 360 || think || pensar || xenóxuabojana || |- | 361 || sing || cantar || xabérsiana || Spanish loanword |- | 362 || smell || oler || xongɨtsetɕiána || |- | 363 || vomit || vomitar || xáʃkonana || |- | 364 || suck || chupar || xobkuakuajána || |- | 365 || blow || soplar || xangowána || |- | 366 || fear || temer || xtsawatxána || |- | 367 || tighten, squeeze || apretar, exprimir || xatɨbána || |- | 368 || hold || sostener || xotbajána || |- | 369 || down || abajo || tsɨtx-óka || |- | 370 || up || arriba || tsbanán-oka || |- | 371 || ripe || maduro || bótʃena || |- | 372 || dust || polvo || polbɨ́-ʃe || Spanish loanword |- | 373 || alive || vivo || ainá || |- | 374 || rope || cuerda || biá-xa || |- | 375 || year || año || wáta || |}

Notes

1. ^ Kaufman 1994.
2. ^ Handbook of South American Indians
3. ^ Fabre 2020, p. 676.
4. ^ Jolkesky 2016.
5. ^ Mason 1950, p. 187.
6. ^ Howard 1972, p. 78.
7. ^ O'Brien 2018, p. 41.
8. ^ Huber & Reed 1992, p. xx.
9. ^ Howard 1972, p. 79.
10. ^ O'Brien 2018, p. 34.
11. ^ O'Brien 2018, pp. 38–39.
12. ^ O'Brien 2018, pp. 36–38.
13. ^ Howard 1972, p. 84.
14. ^ O'Brien 2018, p. 27.
15. ^ Mason 1950.
16. ^ Huber & Reed 1992, p. viii.

Bibliography

• Campbell, Lyle (1997). American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509427-1.
• Fabre, Alain (2001). Kamsá, a poorly documented isolated language spoken in south-western Colombia. Linguistic Perspectives on Endangered Languages. Archived 2019-03-31 at the Wayback Machine.
• Fabre, Alain (2020-06-20 [2005]). "Diccionario etnolingüístico y guía bibliográfica de los pueblos indígenas sudamericanos: KAMSÁ". Electronic. OCLC 934761027. Archived 2023-10-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
• Howard, Linda (1972). "Fonología del camsá" (in Spanish). Sistemas fonológicos de idiomas colombianos. Vol. I. pp. 77–92. Archived 2023-12-29 at the Wayback Machine.
• Huber, Randall Q. & Reed, Robert B. (1992). Vocabulario comparativo: Palabras selectas de lenguas indígenas de Colombia [Comparative vocabulary: Selected words in indigenous languages of Colombia]. Bogotá: Summer Institute of Linguistics. ISBN 958-21-0037-0. Archived 2023-10-14 at the Wayback Machine.
• Jolkesky, Marcelo Pinho de Valhery (2016). Estudo arqueo-ecolinguístico das terras tropicais sul-americanas (Ph.D. dissertation). 2 ed. Brasília: University of Brasília.
• Kaufman, Terrence (1990). "Language History in South America: What We Know and How to Know More". Amazonian Linguistics: Studies in Lowland South American Languages. Payne, D. L. (ed.). Austin: University of Texas Press. pp. 13–67. ISBN 0-292-70414-3.
• Kaufman, Terrence (1994). "The Native Languages of South America". Atlas of the World's Languages. Mosley, C. & Asher, R. E. (eds.). London: Routledge. pp. 46–76.
• McDowell, John Holmes (1994). "So Wise Were Our Elders": Mythic Narratives of the Kamsá. Vol. 6. Native American Studies. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 9780813160368. (Contains mythic and legendary in Camsá with interlinear morphemic glossing and English translations.)
• Mason, John Alden (1950). "The languages of South America". Handbook of South American Indians. Vol. 6. Steward, Julian (ed.). Washington: Smithsonian Institution. pp. 157–317.
• O'Brien, Colleen Alena (2018). A grammatical description of Kamsá, a language isolate of Colombia (phd). University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. hdl:10125/62512