Cariban | |
---|---|
Geographic distribution | Mostly within north-central South America, with extensions in the southern Caribbean and in Central America. |
Linguistic classification | Je–Tupi–Carib?
|
Language codes | |
Glottolog | cari1283 |
Present location of Cariban languages, c. 2000, and probable extent in the 16th century. |
The Cariban languages are a family of languages indigenous to north-eastern South America. They are widespread across northernmost South America, from the mouth of the Amazon River to the Colombian Andes, and they are also spoken in small pockets of central Brazil. The languages of the Cariban family are relatively closely related. There are about three dozen, but most are spoken only by a few hundred people. Macushi is the only language among them with numerous speakers, estimated at 30,000. The Cariban family is well known among linguists partly because one language in the family—Hixkaryana—has a default word order of object–verb–subject. Prior to their discovery of this, linguists believed that this order did not exist in any spoken natural language.
In the 16th century,[ citation needed ] Cariban peoples expanded into the Lesser Antilles. There they killed or displaced, and also mixed with the Arawak peoples who already inhabited the islands. The resulting language—Kalhíphona or Island Carib—was Carib in name but largely Arawak in substance. The Carib male conquerors took Arawak women as wives, and the latter passed on their own language on to the children. For a time, Arawak was spoken by women and children and Carib by adult men, but as each generation of Carib-Arawak boys reached adulthood, they acquired less Carib until only basic vocabulary and a few grammatical elements were left. That form of Island Carib became extinct in the Lesser Antilles in the 1920s, but it survives as Garífuna, or "Black Carib," in Central America. The gender distinction has dwindled to only a handful of words. Dominica is the only island in the eastern Caribbean to retain some of its pre-Columbian population, descendants of the Carib Indians, about 3,000 of whom live on the island's east coast.
The Cariban languages share irregular morphology with the Jê and Tupian families. Ribeiro connects them all in a Je–Tupi–Carib family.[ citation needed ] Meira, Gildea, & Hoff (2010) note that likely morphemes in proto-Tupian and proto-Cariban are good candidates for being cognates, but that work so far is insufficient to make definitive statements.
Jolkesky (2016) notes that there are lexical similarities with the Guato, Kawapana, Nambikwara, Taruma, Warao, Arawak, Bororo, Jeoromitxi, Karaja, Rikbaktsa, and Tupi language families due to contact. [1]
Extensive lexical similarities between Cariban and various Macro-Jê languages suggest that Cariban languages had originated in the Lower Amazon region (rather than in the Guiana Highlands). There they were in contact with early forms of Macro-Jê languages, which were likely spoken in an area between the Parecis Plateau and upper Araguaia River. [1] : 425
The Cariban languages are closely related. In many cases where one of the languages is more distinct, this is due to influence from neighboring languages rather than an indication that it is not closely related. According to Kaufman (2007), "Except for Opon, Yukpa, Pimenteira and Palmela (and possibly Panare), the Cariban languages are not very diverse phonologically and lexically (though more so than Romance, for example)." [2]
Good data has been collected around ca. 2000 on most Cariban languages; classifications prior to that time (including Kaufman 2007, which relies on the earlier work) are unreliable.
Several such classifications have been published; the one shown here, by Derbyshire (1999) divides Cariban into seven branches. A traditional geographic classification into northern and southern branches is cross referenced with (N) or (S) after each language. [3]
The extinct Patagón de Perico language of northern Peru also appears to have been a Cariban language, perhaps close to Carijona. Yao is so poorly attested that Gildea believes it may never be classified.
Preliminary internal classification of the Cariban languages according to Sérgio Meira (2006): [4] : 169
As of Gildea (2012), there had not yet been time to fully reclassify the Cariban languages based on the new data. The list here is therefore tentative, though an improvement over the one above; the most secure branches are listed first, and only two of the extinct languages are addressed. [6]
Meira, Birchall & Chousou-Polydouri (2015) give the following phylogenetic tree of Cariban, based on a computational phylogenetic analysis of 100-item Swadesh lists. [7]
Meira, Birchall & Chousou-Polydouri (2015) conclude that the Proto-Cariban homeland was located north of the Amazon River, and that there is no evidence for a northward migration from the south, as previously proposed by Rodrigues (1985). [8] Rather there were two southern migrations (Pekodian and Nahukwa into the Upper Xingu).
Internal classification by Jolkesky (2016): [1]
(† = extinct)
Below is a full list of Cariban language varieties listed by Loukotka (1968), including names of unattested varieties. [9]
Cariban language varieties listed by Loukotka (1968) |
---|
Western languages: Caraib / Calinago / Karib – language spoken by the insular and continental Caraibes, with many dialects:
|
Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for the Cariban (Karaib) languages. [9]
Language | Branch | head | eye | tooth | man | one | two | three |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yaruma | Xingú | u-vite | ye-nguru | u-én | yó | |||
Bakairí | Xingú | x-ináraxu | x-ánu | x-yéri | aguróto | tokolele | asage | ahágetokólo |
Nahukwá | Xingú | u-víterö | u-vínuru | u-vire | utoto | álechi | atake | etila |
Kuikutl | Xingú | u-ritöl | u-ínuru | u-íl | utóto | |||
Kalapalo | Xingú | u-íköre | u-ínoru | |||||
Yamarikuná | Xingú | u-ínoru | u-igl | utóto | ||||
Arára | Arára | muchína | oñuruma | yéri | ukone | náne | atag | ataganané |
Parirí | Arára | mũchí | unguru | heéngo | l'ügóro | nané | atág | atáganane |
Apingi | Arára | i-montxi | angrungo | yeri | ukone | toiné | asakoro | aséruao |
Palmela | Palmela | na-ápo | óno | yeré | óka | aropé | aha | ohehua |
Pimenteira | Pimenteira | baburi | önthuburü | yari | chä | |||
Pijao | Pijao | luːn | tínki | oréma | ||||
Opone | Opone | yu-úh | yéu | xór | okír | seneároko | sá | sáura |
Carare | Opone | sü-oko | yeo | |||||
Guaque | Carijona | xutuye | yeri | gire | ||||
Carijona | Carijona | utuhé | yénuru | yéri | kire | téui | sekeneré | seaueré |
Umáua | Carijona | bútuhe | yenuːru | yeːli | gelé | téui | sakénele | dyelauele |
Patagon | Patagon | |||||||
Yupe | Motilon | o-hárza | áno | kiíko | kürpa | tukumarkó | kosárko | koserárko |
Chaque | Motilon | o-harza | anó | kiíko | kürpa | kumarko | kasarko | kosera |
Macoa | Motilon | yu-wasá | anu | kiyiːko | mashá | kumárko | kósak | koséra |
Maraca | Motilon | yu-wasa | yo-nu | |||||
Parirí | Motilon | yu-wása | yá-nu | kiʔiko | kipantu | kumárku | kósaʔ | |
Shapáru | Motilon | yu-wása | yá-nu | yi | kumárko | kósa | ||
Iroca | Motilon | tʔkúmaː | ||||||
Itoto Maimy | Tamanaco | Pùpoo | Enury | Jery | Itoto | Tewin | Aisake | Aisoroaw |
Tivericoto | Tamanaco | o-putpa | o-neana | ovin | oko | orwa | ||
Palenque | Tamanaco | |||||||
Yao | Yao | boppe | vokre | hioseli | tewin | tage | terewaw | |
Shebayi | Shebayi | wa-kewüri | wa-daköli | nu-yeri | ||||
Decuána | Maquiritaré | u-huhé | énu | yéde | tokomo | toːni | hake | aduáne |
Yecuaná | Maquiritaré | hóuf | u-yenuru | yeːri | areifhe | tauíni | ake | hedáue |
Cunuaná | Maquiritaré | hú-ha | ||||||
Ihuruána | Maquiritaré | hú-he | yeːde | |||||
Mapoyo | Mapoyo | uastari | xene-yonuru | xe-ñeiri | tokomo | tóskena | sakane | tominiakeré |
Yauarána | Mapoyo | exne-oaixtéli | exne-nuru | exne-yéli | tokúnu | enix-péte | asáke | petomeyákele |
Panáre | Panáre | oʔó | yoʔón | |||||
Taurepán | Taurepán | upai | yénu | u-yé | kurai | teukinán | sákeʔené | seulúana |
Arecuna | Taurepán | pu-pai | yenú | u-yé | uarati | täukináng | sakeine | isélehaúvane |
Camaracoto | Taurepán | pupai-to | enu-to | warato | taʔakin | tsagane | etserau | |
Ingarico | Taurepán | u-paí | u-yenú | u-yé | orauó | teukíng | atsalongkong | etseuluaong-kóng |
Uaica | Taurepán | ienuru | ||||||
Acawai | Taurepán | yu-popo | yenuru | yu | wínow | tidzyine | asakró | asorwo |
Macusi | Macusi | po-pai | tenu | u-yeká | uaratáe | tiwing | sagaré | siruane |
Keseruma | Macusi | yenu | pemóngó | tivín | ||||
Purucoto | Macusi | hau-pupe | hau-yenú | hau-yée | walaitó | aleini | iniperkuru | inialé |
Wayumara | Macusi | i-hubé | yenurú | i-yelé | totó | tueviné | asále | eseuluó |
Paraviyana | Macusi | i-pupá | e-rénialö | e-lelö | meimun | teuén | aköunien | olaulé |
Zapará | Macusi | une-kapú | u-yonú | topúpesó | itxemené | tulekalenó | oláno | |
Yauapery | Yauapery | ki-yó | kembá | ki-äri | marabá | asiki | usono | |
Uaimiri | Yauapery | ki-fó | kopanamareː | ki-eri | kumutareː | unionoː | tukunumá | uruanoː |
Orixaná | Yauapery | u-pai | u-ini | u-yeté | itiamon | tuimo | sananeburé | sarsiua |
Pauishana | Pauishana | puːpo | yoːno | ye | yungwei | níkenaːna | ataːre | ãná-mokaːre |
Waiwai | Waiwai | a-tipiri | e-oru | ko-yóri | tata | chewñé | asakí | chorohoko |
Parucoto | Waiwai | o-yúla | ko-yali | tukinkaré | asakené | serkuané | ||
Uaiboi | Waiwai | ku-nurú | kamuhí | |||||
Hishcariana | Waiwai | kui-kuturu | ku-yo | tamushi | tonishá | sakó | sorowão | |
Bonari | Waiwai | iri-opó | nuru-bá | yoré | ukeré | abané | pademaká | uruá |
Chiquena | Chiquena | ya-nũru | yoli | soto | winali | asaga | sorawau | |
Saluma | Chiquena | yiwu-tupuli | ye-nu | |||||
Pauxi | Chiquena | toto | ||||||
Uayeué | Chiquena | vu-turú | u-yari | totó | ||||
Cachuena | Chiquena | yo-soru | yo-núru | yoré | totó | tuinarí | asáki | osoruaul |
Mutuan | Chiquena | ko-nofati | yurú | |||||
Trio | Trio | í-pútupo | ye-nuru | i-yeri | kirí | tinki | ökönö | voyerau |
Urucuyena | Trio | putpí | i-eú | yi-eːda | okirí | wanána | shakené | heruáu |
Wama | Trio | wi-pupo | ye-nuru | ye-ri | ||||
Tliometesen | Trio | oba-tuwiri | en-nuru | oliː | enkili | tonikini | sokororo | ebemüni |
Ocomayana | Trio | u-nu | ye | |||||
Pianocoto | Trio | ye-nei | yu-tali | okirí | ||||
Rangú | Trio | |||||||
Waiana | Eastern | e-putiü | ye-nuru | yére | okiri | uaptö | hakené | eheruaé |
Upurui | Eastern | e-putpiʔi | ye-nuru | yére | okiri | |||
Rucuyene | Eastern | ité-puru | e-nuru | yeré | okiri | tavené | sakené | héléuʔau |
Apalai | Eastern | u-pupu | anu | deri | eritua | seni | asakoro | eseuʔau |
Aracajú | Eastern | seresa | apükaua | |||||
Caraib | Western | búpu | é-hulu | yeri | uakuri | ábama | bíama | eleva |
Galibi | Western | u-pupu | e-nuru | yeré | okiri | awín | okuo | tereva |
Caribisi | Western | ye-pupo | ye-nuru | wokiri | ówé | oko | orwá | |
Caribe | Western | ada-puxo | dhere | buköre | óbin | óko | órwa | |
Cariniaco | Western | é-nuru | yeri | okiri | owi | uariri | orowa | |
Carif | Western | nábulu | tágu | bári | ugíri | ábana | biáma | íruwa |
Language | Branch | water | fire | sun | moon | maize | jaguar | arrow |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yaruma | Xingú | páru | kampón | tsizi | nunó | |||
Bakairí | Xingú | páru | páto | chíshi | núna | anádzyi | aká | püráu |
Nahukwá | Xingú | tuna | itó | riti | nune | aná | ikere | hüré |
Kuikutl | Xingú | tuna | ñorotéke | liti | núne | tonuríñe | ||
Kalapalo | Xingú | itoː | turúgitiñe | |||||
Yamarikuná | Xingú | liti | núne | |||||
Arára | Arára | parú | kampot | titi | núna | konat | okoró | puiram |
Parirí | Arára | parú | kampó | titi | tunó | honát | hogró | puyrém |
Apingi | Arára | paru | kampot | chichi | nuno | anat | okori | pirem |
Palmela | Palmela | tuná | vava | yéyu | ñúña | éña | okóro | puera |
Pimenteira | Pimenteira | tuna | vafundi | titi | nulu | thauato | prümachö | pürarü |
Pijao | Pijao | tána | nuhúgi | huíl | núna | xaguáde | ||
Opone | Opone | tuná | fotó | bueno | kanó | mues | ixáke | yahá |
Carare | Opone | kʔara | bwenuñe | menye | pak'anye | |||
Guaque | Carijona | tuna | maxoto | vehi | nuna | kaikuchi | ||
Carijona | Carijona | tuna | apoto | bei | nunua | kaikusi | xarakue | |
Umáua | Carijona | tuːna | mahóto | wéi | nuːne | anaːdzyi | kaikudzyi | huːya |
Patagon | Patagon | tuná | anás | |||||
Yupe | Motilon | kuna | guesta | güichó | kuna | mé | isóʔo | samás |
Chaque | Motilon | kuna | hueto | gichio | kuno | me | isó | |
Macoa | Motilon | kúna | huéto | huichol | kuník | me | ísho | puréyi |
Maraca | Motilon | kuːna | whishta | huicho | kunu | eːsho | puraye | |
Parirí | Motilon | kána | wueta | wíchu | kúnu | |||
Shapáru | Motilon | kúna | wuéta | |||||
Iroca | Motilon | kuːna | esho | |||||
Tamanaco | Tamanaco | duná | uapto | veyu | nuna | xexe | akére | preu |
Chayma | Tamanaco | tuna | apoto | vieyu | nonin | amapo | kocheiku | pure |
Cumanagota | Tamanaco | tuna | veyu | nonum | añaze | kozeiko | preu | |
Tivericoto | Tamanaco | tuna | apoto | vé | niano | |||
Palenque | Tamanaco | tuna | ekere | |||||
Yao | Yao | tuná | uapoto | veyo | nona | arua | mapuru | |
Shebayi | Shebayi | wekulüe | kirtrire | heweri | ||||
Decuána | Maquiritaré | tona | wáto | céi | nona | nakchi | máedo | haxkúdi |
Yecuaná | Maquiritaré | tuná | wato | zyi | nuːna | maro | shimaːra | |
Cunuaná | Maquiritaré | uáʔto | shi | núna | shimáda | |||
Ihuruána | Maquiritaré | tuná | wáto | zyiː | nuːne | |||
Mapoyo | Mapoyo | tuna | kátun | nuna | oxonai | ékire | úbuʔare | |
Yauarána | Mapoyo | túna | wáto | yãtonu | núne | náchi | hékele | pákuli |
Panáre | Panáre | echár-kun | güegua | kenak | xadpoʔót | |||
Taurepán | Taurepán | tuná | apóg | wéi | kapéi | anain | kaikusé | peléu |
Arecuna | Taurepán | tuna | apo | väi | kapeá | aʔanaig | kaikusi | pureu |
Camaracoto | Taurepán | apoiʔ | be | kapui | anaiʔ | kakutse | purau | |
Ingarico | Taurepán | tuná | ápo | wéi | kapéi | anaí | kaikushí | pelé |
Uaica | Taurepán | tuna | apok | uey | nuna | |||
Acawai | Taurepán | tuno | wato | vieyu | nuno | kaikushi | pulewa | |
Macusi | Macusi | tuna | uató | wei | kapoi | anain | kaikushí | eriu |
Keseruma | Macusi | |||||||
Purucoto | Macusi | tuna | apotó | wéi | nánõ | kaikudzé | poyá | |
Wayumara | Macusi | túna | wató | weyú | nuná | mazyiná | kaikushi | heló |
Paraviyana | Macusi | dóna | vuatú | tamana | noné | ainiain | ekölé | arámöu |
Zapará | Macusi | tuná | wató | wé | kapéi | anáe | ekelé | urapóno |
Yauapery | Yauapery | tuná | uató | eyú | déʔeli | kokoshí | ibikuari | |
Uaimiri | Yauapery | tunã | uatoː | eioː | nunueba | uhi | kúkúboi | maprú |
Orixaná | Yauapery | tuná | uató | ueihu | teparé | euá | ekeré | upreu |
Pauishana | Pauishana | tuná | uató | uai | núna | uátaka | uraːpa | |
Waiwai | Waiwai | tuná | wehtó | kamo | nuné | yaypí | waywí | |
Parucoto | Waiwai | tuna | witu | uchi | kapube | akeré | ||
Uaiboi | Waiwai | tuna | zyitó | núna | ||||
Hishcariana | Waiwai | toná | wuhritó | kamaːna | noːná | waiwí | ||
Bonari | Waiwai | tuná | uatú | weyu | keri | pureːná | ||
Chiquena | Chiquena | tuna | wihala | sesi | imho | klaho | ||
Saluma | Chiquena | tuna | ||||||
Pauxi | Chiquena | tuna | isire | nune | uau | préu | ||
Uayeué | Chiquena | tuná | piéto | kamo | nuná | maipuri | kurumuri | |
Cachuena | Chiquena | tuná | mirótó | isóso | imnó | honese | kaikesú | praué |
Mutuan | Chiquena | tuna | ritó | soːro | zyairú | purí | ||
Trio | Trio | túna | mata | veyu | nunö | anai | maipuri | pléu |
Urucuyena | Trio | tuná | mato | uwi | nuna | maipurí | puréu | |
Wama | Trio | tuna | mato | wei | paora | |||
Tliometesen | Trio | tono | mato | wei | nunu | potireru | mashibuli | pureri |
Ocomayana | Trio | tuna | mato | uwi | nuna | |||
Pianocoto | Trio | tuna | matto | weh | nuna | eñaye | maipuri | purau |
Rangú | Trio | tuma | mato | nuna | ||||
Waiana | Eastern | tuna | uapot | shishi | nunuö | enai | yauéri | pleu |
Upurui | Eastern | tuna | uapot | shishi | nunu | enai | yaueri | piréu |
Rucuyene | Eastern | tuna | uapot | chichi | nunu | enai | maipuri | piréu |
Apalai | Eastern | tuna | apotó | chichi | nunó | ashinase | machipuri | piróu |
Aracajú | Eastern | tuna | uapto | chichi | yasüe | uárapára | ||
Caraib | Western | tóne | uátu | hueyu | núnú | aoashi | kahikushi | buleúa |
Galibi | Western | tuna | uato | veyu | nuno | auoasi | kaikusi | plia |
Caribisi | Western | tuna | watú | wiyeyu | nuno | purewa | ||
Caribe | Western | túna | bedu | núno | peröwa | |||
Cariniaco | Western | túna | wato | wedo | nuno | puriui | ||
Carif | Western | dúna | wátu | uéyu | hát | auás | gáigusi | láru |
Proto-Cariban | |
---|---|
Reconstruction of | Cariban languages |
Proto-Cariban phonology according to Gildea (2012): [6] : 448
p | t | k | |
m | n | ||
w | r | j |
i | ɨ | u |
e | ô | o |
a |
Proto-Cariban reconstructions by Gildea (2007, 2012): [11] [12]
Proto-Cariban reconstructions by Gildea (2007, 2012) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The Tupi or Tupian language family comprises some 70 languages spoken in South America, of which the best known are Tupi proper and Guarani.
Carib or Kari'nja is a Cariban language spoken by the Kalina people (Caribs) of South America. It is spoken by around 7,400 mostly in Brazil, The Guianas, and Venezuela. The language is currently classified as highly endangered.
Panare is a Cariban language, spoken by the Panare, who number 3,000–4,000 and live in Bolivar State in central Venezuela. Their main area is South of the town of Caicara del Orinoco, south of the Orinoco River. There are several subdialects of the language. The autonym for this language and people is e'ñapá, which has various senses depending on context, including 'people', 'indigenous-people', and 'Panare-people'. The term "Panare" itself is a Tupí word that means "friend." It is unusual in having object–verb–agent as one of its main word orders, the other being the more common verb–agent–object. It also displays the typologically uncommon property of an ergative–absolutive alignment in the non-perfective aspects and a nominative–accusative alignment in perfective aspect.
The Aparai or Apalai are an indigenous people of Brazil, who live in Amapá and Pará states. A little community is located in French Guiana, in Antecume Pata. They were sedentary slash-and-burn farmers, necessitating periodic relocation as soil became exhausted, but also hunters and gatherers. They spoke a Carib language and in the 20th century their subsistence shifted towards craftwork as they adapted to modern Brazil and the cash economy.
Tiriyó is the Cariban language used in everyday life by the Tiriyó people, the majority of whom are monolingual. Although Tiriyó is the preferred spelling, the Tiriyó refer to themselves as tarëno; other variations, including tarano, tirió, and trio, exist. The Tiriyó are located on both sides of the Brazil-Suriname border in Lowland South America. Because Tiriyó is spoken by the entire Tiriyó population, its level of endangerment is low. However, it may be threatened by the presence of a newly installed radar station staffed by a considerable number of non-Indigenous people close to the main village.
The languages of Venezuela refers to the official languages and various dialects spoken in established communities within the country. In Venezuela, Castillian is the official language and is the mother tongue of the majority of Venezuelans. Although there is an established official language, there are countless languages of indigenous villages spoken throughout Venezuela, and various regions also have languages of their own.
The Pemon language is an indigenous language of the Cariban family spoken by some 30,000 Pemon people, in Venezuela's Southeast, particularly in the Canaima National Park, in the Roraima State of Brazil and in Guyana.
Amonap, also known as Apalakiri, is a Cariban language spoken by the Kuikuro and Kalapalo peoples of Brazil, and formerly by the Matipu. It is spoken in seven villages along the Culuene River in the Xingu Indigenous Park of Mato Grosso.
Wapishana (Wapixana) is an Arawakan language of Guyana and Brazil. It is spoken by over 13,000 people on both sides of the Guyana-Brazil border.
Mawayana (Mahuayana), also known as Mapidian (Maopidyán), is a moribund Arawakan language of northern South America. It used to be spoken by Mawayana people living in ethnic Wai-wai and Tiriyó villages in Brazil, Guyana and Suriname. As of 2015, the last two speakers of the language are living in Kwamalasamutu.
Wayana is a language of the Cariban family, spoken by the Wayana people, who live mostly in the borderlands of French Guiana, Brazil, and Suriname.
Arára is a Cariban language of Pará, Brazil. It is spoken by the Arara and perhaps other related groups.
The Ikpeng language is the language of the Ikpeng people who live in the Xingu Indigenous National Park in Mato Grosso, Brazil. There are approximately 500 speakers. Ikpeng is a language with high transmission, meaning it is passed on from parent to child at a high rate, with all members speaking the language. The majority of members are also bilingual speakers of Portuguese. The Ikpeng language is part of the Carib (Karib) language family.
Yarumá is an extinct and poorly attested Cariban language. Kaufman (2007) placed it in his Arara branch, as does Gildea (1998).
Indigenous peoples in Guyana, Native Guyanese or Amerindian Guyanese are Guyanese people who are of indigenous ancestry. They comprise approximately 9.16% of Guyana's population. Amerindians are credited with the invention of the canoe, as well as Cassava-based dishes and Guyanese pepperpot, the national dish of Guyana. Amerindian languages have also been incorporated in the lexicon of Guyanese Creole.
Sérgio Meira de Santa Cruz Oliveira is a Brazilian linguist who specializes in the Cariban and Tupian language families of lowland South America and in the Tiriyó language in particular. He has worked on the classification of the Cariban language family, and has collected primary linguistic data from speakers of 14 Cariban languages and 5 non-Cariban languages.
The Pidjanan languages are a subgroup of Arawakan languages of northern South America.
The Pekodian languages are a subgroup of the Cariban language family. The languages are spoken in Mato Grosso and Pará states of Brazil and make up the southernmost branch of Cariban.