Chiquitano

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A language of Bolivia

ISO 639-3
cax
Alternate Names
Besïro, Chikitano, Chiquito, Tarapecosi
User Population

4,620 in Bolivia (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 47,100 (Adelaar 2004). Total users in all countries: 4,670.

Location

Santa Cruz department: Ángel Sandoval and Germán Busch, Chiquitos, Concepción, Florida, Lomerío, Ñuflo de Chávez, Roboré, San Ignacio, San Javier, San José, San Miguel, San Rafael, San Ramón, Santa Rosa de la Roca, and Velasco provinces.

Language Maps
Language Status

8a (Moribund).

Classification
Language isolate
Dialects

Concepción, San Ignacio de Velazco, San Javier (Javierano, Xavierano), Santiago, San Miguel.

Typology

SVO; 14 consonants and 12 vowels (6 oral, 6 nasal); grammatical differences between men’s and women’s speech.

Language Use

Older adults only. Shifted to Spanish [spa]. Used as L2 by Paunaka [pnk], Saraveca [sar].

Language Development

Taught as subject in all primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 1980–2012.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chiquitano
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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