Urarina

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A language of Peru

ISO 639-3
ura
Alternate Names
Cimarrón, Itucale, Itucali, Itukale, Kacha Edze, Kacha Ere, Oroarina, Shimacu, Simacu
Autonym
Oruarinya
User Population

4,850 (2007 census). Women are monolingual. Ethnic population: 4,850 (2007 census).

Location

Loreto region: Urarinas district, Chambira, Pucayacu, and Urituyacu rivers.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Language isolate
Dialects

Several dialects with minor differences. Ruhlen and others classify it as Andean.

Typology

OVS; 16 consonants and 16 vowels, contrasting in length and nasality.

Language Use

Bilingual education program but in almost all bilingual schools Spanish [spa] is used exclusively because the teachers are not native Urarina speakers (Crevels 2007). Used by all. Also use Spanish [spa], especially men, with varied but generally good proficiency.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: Below 5%. Grammar. Texts. NT: 2006–2008.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Urarina
Writing

Latin script [Latn].