Kaiwá

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A language of Brazil

ISO 639-3
kgk
Alternate Names
Caingua, Caiua, Caiwa, Cayua, Kaingwá, Kaiova, Kaiowá, Kayova, Paï-Tavyterã
User Population

18,000 (2003 ISA). Ethnic population: 20,000 (Crevels 2012).

Location

Mato Grosso do Sul state: Apa, Dourados, and Ivinhema rivers north to Mbarakaju mountains and Jejui river tributaries south.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Classification
Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Guaraní, Guaraní
Dialects

Teüi, Tembekuá, Kaiwá. Some comprehension of Paraguayan Guaraní [gug]. Lexical similarity: 70% with Pai Tavytera [pta] of Paraguay.

Typology

14 consonants and 12 vowels (6 oral, 6 nasal).

Language Use

Many also use Paraguayan Guaraní [gug], particularly among the youth who use it as their L1. Many also use Portuguese [por]. Used as L2 by Ofayé [opy].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Dictionary. Texts. NT: 1986.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kaiwá
Writing

Latin script [Latn].