Macro-Penutian languages

The term "Macro-Penutian" refers to a proposed larger grouping of languages that includes the Penutian languages and potentially other language families from North and Mesoamerica. The Penutian languages themselves are a proposed phylum or superstock of American Indian languages spoken along the west coast of North America, from British Columbia to California and New Mexico.1

This grouping consists of about 15 language families, including Wintun, Miwok-Costanoan, Sahaptin, Yokutsan, and Maiduan, among others. Many of these families have very few speakers remaining, and some are extinct. Major languages within the phylum include Zuni, Tsimshian, and Sahaptin dialects. Some scholars have suggested including families like Totonacan, Huave, Mixe-Zoquean, and even Mayan within the Macro-Penutian stock, though this is not universally accepted. Penutian languages often use suffixes and stem changes, similar to European languages.1