Abstract
The Mixe-Zoquean languages of southern Mexico are found in in the area of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The family has two branches, Mixe and Zoque. Historically, the Olmecs were the ancestors of the Mixe-Zoqueans. Mixe-Zoquean languages are typically Meso–American. Phonologically spare Proto-Mixe-Zoquean, with six vowels and a consonant system lacking voicing contrasts, developed patterns of voicing, metathesis, ablaut, and alternations involving glottal stop and h in the daughter languages, some of which are typologically unusual. Most of the daughter languages are headmarking with significant morphological elaboration. Ergativity and inverse person marking is widespread in the family.
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