Table 1 Classification of living things by the Mixtecs of Santa Catarina Estetla, Oaxaca

Animals

kɨtɨ, tɨ-

Animal house (domestic) “kɨtɨ tata”; animal field (wild) “kɨtɨ yuku”; animal harmful (injurious) “kɨtɨ kui´na”

Trees and shrubs^a

yutnu, tnu-

Pine tree “tnuyusa”, oak “tnuyaa”, chamizo “tnutau”, carrizo “tnuyoo”

Herbs

yɨ´ɨ, ku´u, yukú

Herbs “ku´u”, flower “ita”, grass “ite”

Mushrooms

xi´i

Good mushroom (edible mushroom) “xi´i va´a”, mushroom that is eaten (“xi´i saxio”)

Mushroom bad (poisonous mushroon) or crazy mushroom “xi´i kue´e”, mushroom that is not eaten “xi´i un tu saxío”

Frog mushroom “xi´i la´va”, Toad mushroom “xi´i la´va ndɨ´yɨ”

Mushroom growing on the dry stump “xi´i kene nuu ntu´u”, “xi´i kene nuu yutnu”

Mushroom that grows on the soil “xi´i kene nuu ñu´u”

Mushroom that grows on manure “xi´i nuu ka´ava”

Mushroom that grows on the leaf litter “xi´i kene nuu vixi”