Caxcan or Cazcan (Kaskán) was the language of the Caxcan, one of the Chichimeca peoples of Mexico. It is known only from a few word lists recorded in the 16th and 17th centuries. The language was definitely part of the Uto-Aztecan family, perhaps most closely related to Huichol or Southern Tepehuan. Other hypotheses include a close relationship with Nahuan, and according to , the Caxcan language was mutually intelligible with Classical Nahuatl. There appear to have been dialectal differences between the major Caxcan valleys, and it is likely that several other languages were spoken in Caxcan territory.Frank Gille, 1974. Encyclopedia of Indians of the Americas, volume 2
Lexicon Among the few words attested are cazcan "there isn't any" (the response to the first Spanish demand for food), "quemedor", and aguano "war chief".Robert Barlow & George Smisor, eds. (1943), Faustino Galicia Chimalpopoca, Nombre de Dios, Durango: Two Documents in Náhuatl Concerning Its Foundation: Memorial of the Indians Concerning Their Services, C. 1563; Agreement of the Mexicans and Michoacanos, 1585
See also
List of extinct Uto-Aztecan languages
References