Mundurukú

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A language of Brazil

Alternate Names
Caras-Pretas, Monjoroku, Mundurucu, Paiquize, Pari, Weidyenye
Autonym
Mõnjoroko
User Population

8,000 (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 10,100 (2002 FUNASA).

Location

Amazonas, Mato Grosso, and Pará states; middle Madeira, and middle and upper Tapajós rivers; 22 villages.

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Typology

SOV; 17 consonants and 20 vowels, contrasting in nasality and creaky voice.

Language Use

Sai Cinza village and others villages on the Cururu river mostly monolingual in Mundurukú (2020 F. Gerardi). Some young people, all adults. Many also use Portuguese [por], especially in those communities where children use it as their L1 (Mangue, Praia do Índio, Terra Indígena Coatá-Laranjal, Amazonas). Portuguese is also used by many in Jacareacanga (with high proficiency), by men (more than women) in Sai Cinza, by those at the Roman Catholic mission on the Cururu, and by men in villages along the Cururu (for trade). Many women know daily greetings. Used as L2 by Apiaká [api], Apinayé [apn].

Language Development

Grammar. NT: 1980.

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Population formerly decimated by outsiders’ diseases and malaria is presently growing. Traditional religion, Christian.