Page Type: languageCarib | Ethnologue

CAR ISO 639-3

Carib

Karìna auran Autonym

A language of Venezuela

ISO 639
car
Alternate Names
Caribe, Cariña, Galibi, Kalihna, Kalinya, Kari’nja, Kari’ña, Kariña
Autonym
Karìna auran
Population
4,450 in Venezuela (2001 census). Ethnic population: 38,800 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 8,558.
Location:
Anzoátegui, Bolívar, and Monagas states: Orinoco river mouth area; Guyana border; some in Delta Amacuro state.
Language Status
6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2008, Indigenous Languages Law, Article 4).
Classification
Cariban
Dialects
Tabajari, Murato (Myrato, Western Carib). Eastern dialect primarily in eastern Suriname and in French Guiana and Brazil; western dialect in central and western areas of Suriname and in Guyana and Venezuela.
Typology
SOV; postpositions; 11 consonants and 6 vowels.
Language Use
Many in the ethnic group speak Carib but lack intergenerational transmission (Crevels 2007). Home. Some young people, all adults.
Language Development
Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 2003.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Carib
Writing
Latin script [Latn].

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Galibi
User Population
28 in Brazil (Moore 2006). Ethnic population: 66 (Crevels 2012).
Location
Amapá state: Terra Indigena Galibi, São José dos Galibi village on Oiapoque river right bank, south of Saint Georges, between Morcego and Taparabu streams.
Dialects
Tyrewuju (Eastern Carib).
Language Status
8a (Moribund)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Portuguese-Carib creole people (Galibí do Uaça) also speak Karipuna French Creole [kmv].
View other languages of Brazil
Language Name
Carib
User Population
2,400 in French Guiana (Crevels 2012). No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 4,000 (Crevels 2012).
Location
Northwest coast, along lower Mana and Maroni rivers east of Maroni river mouth, Iracoubo and Organabo areas between Kourou and Mana.
Dialects
Tyrewuju (Eastern Carib).
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of French Guiana
Language Name
Carib
User Population
480 in Guyana (1991). Ethnic population: 3,000 (2000 J. Forte). The ethnic group represents 6% of the Amerindians in Guyana.
Location
Barima-Waini and Pomeroon-Supenaam regions: Northwest, coastal river heads and coastal lowland forests.
Dialects
Murato (Myrato, Western Carib), Aretyry.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
View other languages of Guyana
Language Name
Carib
User Population
1,200 in Suriname (Carlin 2001). Ethnic population: 3,000 (Crevels 2012).
Location
Coronie district: Welgelegen commune; Marowijne district: Albina and Galibi communes; Para district: Bigi Poika commune; Saramacca district: Calcutta commune; Sipaliwini district: Boven Coppename commune.
Dialects
Murato (Myrato, Western Carib), Tyrewuju (Eastern Carib), Aretyry.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Ethnic autonym: Kari’na. Glossonym: Kara’ibs in Dutch, Galibí in French, Caribe in Spanish, Carib in English.
View other languages of Suriname

Map

Location: Anzoátegui, Bolívar, and Monagas states: Orinoco river mouth area; Guyana border; some in Delta Amacuro state.