Sirionó

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Bolivia

ISO 639-3
srq
Alternate Names
Mbia Chee, Mbya
User Population

190 (Crevels 2012), decreasing. 30 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 980 (2016 L. Evans). More than half the ethnic group is under 15 years old (Crevels 2007).

Location

El Beni and Santa Cruz departments: Ibiato (Eviato); Salvatierra on Río Blanco river.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Guarayú, Sirionó
Dialects

None known. Reportedly similar to Yuqui [yuq].

Typology

13 consonants and 6 vowels; whistle speech reported.

Language Use

More and more of the children do not acquire the language (Crevels 2007). Religious services. Some young people, all adults. Positive attitudes. All also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 40%. 250 can read, 50 can write. Taught as subject in some primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1977.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Sirionó
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian.