Maquiritari

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A language of Venezuela

ISO 639-3
mch
Alternate Names
Cunuana, De’cuana, De’kwana, De’kwana Carib, Maiongong, Maquiritai, Maquiritare, Pawana, Soto, Ye’cuana, Ye’kwana, Yekuana
Autonym
Ye’kuana
User Population

6,200 in Venezuela (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 8,000 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 6,630.

Location

Bolívar and Amazonas states: Brazilian border area on upper Auaris, Caura, Cuntinamo, Cunucunuma, Erebato, Matacuni, Padamo, mid-Paragua, and upper Ventuari rivers.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a* (Vigorous). Recognized language (2008, Indigenous Languages Law, Article 4).

Classification
Cariban, Central, Makiritare
Typology

12 consonants and 14 vowels (7 short, 7 long).

Language Use

Some also use Spanish [spa], mostly children (Crevels 2007). Used as L2 by Piaroa [pid], Sanumá [xsu].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 15%. NT: 1970.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Maquiritari
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Also spoken in:

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