Page Type: languageMaquiritari | Ethnologue

MCH ISO 639-3

Maquiritari

Ye’kuana Autonym

A language of Venezuela

ISO 639
mch
Alternate Names
Cunuana, De’cuana, De’kwana, De’kwana Carib, Maiongong, Maquiritai, Maquiritare, Pawana, Soto, Ye’cuana, Ye’kwana, Yekuana
Autonym
Ye’kuana
Population
6,200 in Venezuela (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 8,000 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 6,630.
Location:
Bolívar and Amazonas states: Brazilian border area on upper Auaris, Caura, Cuntinamo, Cunucunuma, Erebato, Matacuni, Padamo, mid-Paragua, and upper Ventuari rivers.
Language Status
6a* (Vigorous). Recognized language (2008, Indigenous Languages Law, Article 4).
Classification
Cariban, Central, Makiritare
Typology
12 consonants and 14 vowels (7 short, 7 long).
Language Use
Some also use Spanish [spa], mostly children (Crevels 2007). Used as L2 by Piaroa [pid], Sanumá [xsu].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 15%. NT: 1970.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Maquiritari
Writing
Latin script [Latn].

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Maquiritari
User Population
430 in Brazil (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 430 (Crevels 2012).
Location
Roraima state: near Venezuela border, Terra Indígena Yanomami.
Dialects
Cunuana, De’cuana (Wainungomo), Ihuruana, Maitsi, Mayongong (Ye’cuana, Yekuana).
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
View other languages of Brazil

Map

Location: Bolívar and Amazonas states: Brazilian border area on upper Auaris, Caura, Cuntinamo, Cunucunuma, Erebato, Matacuni, Padamo, mid-Paragua, and upper Ventuari rivers.