Pirahã
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A language of Brazil
Alternate Names
Mura, Múra-Pirahã, Pirahán
Autonym
Xapaitíiso
User Population
390 (Crevels 2012). Most are monolingual. Ethnic population: 9,690 (Crevels 2012). 9,300 Múra, 390 Pirahã (Crevels 2012).
Location
Amazonas state: Maici and Autaces rivers.
Language Maps
Language Status
6b (Threatened).
Dialects
Múra. No remaining L1 speakers of Múra dialect (Crevels 2012).
Typology
SOV; 8 consonants and 3 vowels; whistle speech reported.
Language Use
Vigorous use of the Pirahã dialect. No remaining L1 speakers of Múra dialect (Crevels 2012). Some of all ages. Some also use Portuguese [por]. Many have shifted to it. Of those who have not, men understand it, but women understand very little and never use it to express themselves (Crevels 2007).
Language Development
Grammar. Bible portions: 1987.
In 1960s the population dwindled to 80 due to high infant mortality, death of mothers giving birth, and disease. Modern medicine helped population growth.