Waiwai

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Pará and Roraima states.

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Guyana

Language NameWaiwai

User Population

200 in Guyana (Forte 1990). Ethnic population: 240 (Crevels 2007).

Location

Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region: southwest, headwaters of Essequibo river.

Alternate Names

Ouayeone, Parukota, Uaieue, Uaiuai, Wai Wai

Dialects

Katawian (Katawina, Katwena).

Language Status

8a (Moribund).

Language Use

Shifted to Guyanese English Creole [gyn]. Used as L2 by Mapidian [mpw], Mawayana [mzx].

Suriname

Language NameWaiwai

User Population

10 in Suriname (Crevels 2007), decreasing. Ethnic population: 80 (Crevels 2007).

Location

Sipaliwini district: Kwamalasamutu area, Sipaliwini river, among Trio [tri] language speakers.

Alternate Names

Katuena

Dialects

Tunayana.

Language Status

8b (Nearly extinct).

Language Use

Elderly only. Shifted to Trió [tri] (Crevels 2007).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. A few came to Suriname in the 1960s and now speak Trio [tri] as L1 (Crevels 2007). Christian.