Which linguistic features are common in Otomanguean languages?

Otomanguean languages, a major phylum of American Indian languages spoken primarily in Mexico, exhibit several distinct linguistic features.1

Phonological Traits

• Tonal Systems: Many Otomanguean languages utilize complex systems of pitches or intonations to distinguish between otherwise identical utterances. Contrastive tones are found widely across the phylum.12
• Consonants: While voiced stops are rare in Mesoamerican languages, they appear in a few Otomanguean languages. Some also feature aspirated stops (e.g., Mazatec and Otomí) and prenasalized stops (e.g., Mazatec, Mixtec, and Otomí).2
• Vowels and Retroflexion: Several branches feature contrastive nasalized vowels. Additionally, retroflex fricatives and affricates are found in languages such as Chocho, Mazatec, Popoloca, and some Zapotec varieties.2

Grammatical Features

• Pronouns: Many Otomanguean languages, including Chatino, Chocho, Ixcatec, Mixtecan, Otomí, Popoloca, Tlapanec, Trique, and Zapotec, feature an inclusive-exclusive contrast in first-person plural pronouns.2
• Verb Alignment: Some languages, such as Amuzgo, Chocho, Popoloca, and varieties of Otomí, exhibit active-inactive verb alignment, where intransitive subjects are marked differently based on whether the subject is agentive or patientlike.2
• Gender: Unlike most Mesoamerican languages, a few Otomanguean languages possess grammatical gender.2