Arawak

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A language of Suriname

ISO 639-3
arw
Alternate Names
Araguaco, Arahuaco, Arahuacos, Arawac, Arowak, Arrowukas, Aruak, Aruaqui, Arwuak, Lokono, Luccumi
Autonym
Lokono Dian
User Population

500 in Suriname (Crevels 2012). Very few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 2,000 (Crevels 2012). Total users in all countries: 2,510.

Location

Commewijne and Para districts: villages from coast to 30 km inland, mainly on the savanna.

Language Maps
Language Status

8a (Moribund).

Classification
Maipurean, Northern, Maritime, Ta-Maipurean
Typology

17 consonants and 10 vowels (5 short, 5 long).

Language Use

Lokono villages show a progressive loss of language (Crevels 2007). Home, friends; mixed use: Religion. Older adults only. Young people no longer interested in learning the language (Crevels 2007). Mixed attitudes. Most shifted to Dutch [nld]. Most shifted to Sranan Tongo [srn].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1850–1978.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Arawak
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Also spoken in:

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