Page Type: languageBarí | Ethnologue

MOT ISO 639-3

Barí

A language of Colombia

ISO 639
mot
Alternate Names
Baria, Barira, Cunausaya, Motilone, Motilón, “Dobocubi” (pej.)
Population
3,500 in Colombia (Civallero 2008). Ethnic population: 3,020 (2018 census). Total users in all countries: 5,020.
Location:
Cesar department: Chimichagua, La Gloria, and Pailitas municipalities; Norte de Santander department: Reserva Indígena Motilón-Barí and Resguardo Indígena Gabarra-Catalaura in Upper Catatumbo and Oro rivers and Serranía de los Motilones region.
Language Status
6a* (Vigorous).
Classification
Chibchan, Chibchan B, Eastern Chibchan, Colombian, Southern Colombian
Typology
10 consonants and 12 vowels (6 oral, 6 nasal).
Language Development
Dictionary.
Other Comments
Classification as Chibchan has been questioned (1973 M. Durbin); Alternatively classified as Arawakan (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977).

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Barí
User Population
1,520 in Venezuela (Crevels 2007). Significant number are still monolingual (Crevels 2007). Ethnic population: 2,840 (2011 census).
Location
Zulia state: Sierra de Perijá southern zone, to Yukpa territory north and Catatumbo river south.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Unrelated to Carib Motilón [yup] (Yukpa). M. Durbin questions its classification as Chibchan; also classified as Arawakan (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977).
View other languages of Venezuela

Map

Location: Cesar department: Chimichagua, La Gloria, and Pailitas municipalities; Norte de Santander department: Reserva Indígena Motilón-Barí and Resguardo Indígena Gabarra-Catalaura in Upper Catatumbo and Oro rivers and Serranía de los Motilones region.