Taming the jaguar: On the lexical equivalence of 'jaguar' and 'domestic dog' in Amazonian languages

This paper takes as its starting point the frequently observed lexicalization pattern in Amazonian languages whereby ‘jaguar’ (Panthera onca) and ‘domestic dog’ (Canis familiaris) share a root. For an English speaker this lexical overlap is surprising, and likewise from a biological perspective, since it cuts across two sets of carnivores: felids (cat family) and canids (dog family). The discussion seeks to answer the question: “why should jaguars and dogs be lexically linked?” – and the answer proposed is that while the lexical overlap may have found its initial motivation in the simple homology of two carnivorous predators, it is best explained synchronically as maintaining a symbolic link between the two animals.