On Pataxó Hãhãhãe and Maxakalí

In this paper, I apply the comparative method of historical linguistics to explore the relationship between Pataxó Hãhãhãe, an under-documented language of Northeast Brazil with no remaining fluent speakers, and Maxakalí, a language with a fluent, first-language speaking community. In addition to confirming a close relationship between Pataxó Hãhãhãe and Maxakalí, I examine their similarities to explore some aspects of Pataxó Hãhãhãe phonology and, to a lesser extent, morphosyntax, despite its limited documentation.