Page Type: languageChiquitano | Ethnologue

CAX ISO 639-3

Chiquitano

A language of Bolivia

ISO 639
cax
Alternate Names
Besïro, Chikitano, Chiquito, Tarapecosi
Population
4,620 in Bolivia (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 47,100 (Adelaar 2004). Total users in all countries: 4,670.
Location:
Santa Cruz department: Ángel Sandoval and Germán Busch, Chiquitos, Concepción, Florida, Lomerío, Ñuflo de Chávez, Roboré, San Ignacio, San Javier, San José, San Miguel, San Rafael, San Ramón, Santa Rosa de la Roca, and Velasco provinces.
Language Status
6b (Threatened).
Classification
Language isolate
Dialects
Concepción, San Ignacio de Velazco, San Javier (Javierano, Xavierano), Santiago, San Miguel.
Typology
SVO; 14 consonants and 12 vowels (6 oral, 6 nasal); grammatical differences between men’s and women’s speech.
Language Use
Some of all ages. For every 8 elders there is only 1 youngster who speaks the language (Crevels 2007). Most also use Spanish [spa]. Used as L2 by Paunaka [pnk], Saraveca [sar].
Language Development
Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 1980–2012.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chiquitano
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Chiquitano
User Population
50 in Brazil (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 740 (Crevels 2012).
Location
Mato Grosso, border area with Bolivia, municipalities of Vila Bela, Cáceres and Porto Espiridião.
Language Status
8a (Moribund)
View other languages of Brazil

Map

Location: Santa Cruz department: Ángel Sandoval and Germán Busch, Chiquitos, Concepción, Florida, Lomerío, Ñuflo de Chávez, Roboré, San Ignacio, San Javier, San José, San Miguel, San Rafael, San Ramón, Santa Rosa de la Roca, and Velasco provinces.