Page Type: languageAmahuaca | Ethnologue

AMC ISO 639-3

Amahuaca

Yora Autonym

A language of Peru

ISO 639
amc
Alternate Names
Amaguaco, Amahuaka, Amajuaca, Amawaka, Ameuhaque, Ipitineri, Ipitnere, Sayaco
Autonym
Yora
Population
300 in Peru (2007 census), decreasing. 20 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 300 (2007 census). Total users in all countries: 520.
Location:
Madre de Dios and Ucayali regions: scattered on Aguaytía, Curanja, Curiuja, Inuya, Las Piedras, Mapuya, Purus, Sepahua, Upper Ucayali, and Yuruá rivers; Southeast Amazon basin.
Language Status
7 (Shifting).
Classification
Panoan, Mainline, Tri-State, Amawaka
Typology
SOV; 15 consonants and 8 vowels (4 oral, 4 nasal).
Language Use
Group disintegrating and losing its identity due to intermarriage with others. No bilingual education program (2007). Home, village. Adults only. Only children in the most distant communities still acquire the language (Crevels 2007). Negative attitudes. Shifting to Spanish [spa]. Also use Sharanahua [mcd]. Also use Yaminahua [yaa].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 30%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 1963–1997.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Amahuaca
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Christian, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Amahuaca
User Population
220 in Brazil (1995).
Location
Acre state: Peru border area.
Dialects
Inuvaken, Viwivakeu.
Language Status
8b (Nearly extinct)
View other languages of Brazil

Map

Location: Madre de Dios and Ucayali regions: scattered on Aguaytía, Curanja, Curiuja, Inuya, Las Piedras, Mapuya, Purus, Sepahua, Upper Ucayali, and Yuruá rivers; Southeast Amazon basin.