Tekó

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A language of French Guiana

ISO 639-3
eme
Alternate Names
Emereñon, Emerillon, Emerilon, Melejo, Mereo, Mereyo, Teco
User Population

400 (Crevels 2012), increasing. Ethnic population: 400 (Crevels 2012).

Location

Brazil border area, at the confluence of Camopi and Oiapock rivers; Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni district: Maroni river area, on Suriname border.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Wayampí, Wayampí
Dialects

None known. Mutually intelligible with Wayampi [oym].

Typology

SOV (rather free); postpositions, noun head generally final, no noun classes or genders, content q-word in initial position, up to 3 prefixes, verbal affixation marks person and number, both tense and aspect, no passives; nontonal; 16 consonant and 7 vowel phonemes.

Language Use

Used by all. All also use French [fra], especially educated persons. Also use Guianese French Creole [gcr]. Also use Portuguese [por]. Used as L2 by Wayampi [oym].

Language Development

Grammar. Texts.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tekó
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Some borrowing from Wayana [way] or Carib [car]. Intermarriage with Wayana or Wayampi [oym].