Tsimané

A language of Bolivia

ISO 639: cas
Alternate Names: Chimané, Moseteno, Mosetén
Population: 7,300 (Crevels 2012). 950 Mosetén, 6,350 Tsimané (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 10,200 (Crevels 2012). 1,590 Mosetén, 8,610 Tsimané (Crevels 2012).
Location:: El Beni department: San Miguel de Huachi and Santa Ana de Alto Beni; along Maniqui river; La Paz department: north of La Paz city.
Language Status: 6b (Threatened).
Classification: Mosetenan
Dialects: Tsimané, Mosetén. Mosetén move into Tsimané communities and function with seemingly no communication difficulties (2002 NTM).
Typology: 23 consonants and 16 vowels, contrasting in length and nasality.
Language Use: Some young people, all adults. Young people and adults. Also use Spanish [spa], especially children who attend school in one of the highland communities. Other children do not acquire it until they are 15 years of age. Women and older people speak very little of it (Crevels 2007).
Language Development: Videos. Grammar. Texts. NT: 1997.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Tsimané
Writing: Latin script [Latn], not in use by Mosetén.
Other Comments: Mosetén and Tsimané separate languages (Adelaar 1991). Traditional religion.

Location: El Beni department: San Miguel de Huachi and Santa Ana de Alto Beni; along Maniqui river; La Paz department: north of La Paz city.