They are also known as Mataco, Wichi, Wichí Lhamtés, Weenhayek, Noctenes, Matahuayo, Matako, Weʃwo.
[1] In 2010, the province of Chaco in Argentina declared Wichí as one of four provincial official languages alongside Spanish and the indigenous Moqoit and Qom.
According to Najlis (1968)[4] and Gordon (2005),[5][pages needed] three main dialects can be distinguished in the Wichí group: southwestern or Vejós (Wehwós), northeastern or Güisnay (Weenhayek) and northwestern or Nocten (Oktenay).
Tovar (1981)[6] and other authors claim the existence of only two dialects (northeastern and southwestern), while Braunstein (1992–3)[7] identifies eleven ethnic subgroups.
Wichí languages are predominantly suffixing and polysynthetic; verbal words have between 2 and 15 morphemes.