Pirahã | Ethnologue

A language of Brazil

ISO 639: myp
Alternate Names: Mura, Múra-Pirahã, Pirahán
Autonym: Xapaitíiso
Population: 390 (Crevels 2012). Most are monolingual. Ethnic population: 9,690 (Crevels 2012). 9,300 Múra, 390 Pirahã (Crevels 2012).
Location:: Amazonas state: Maici and Autaces rivers.
Language Status: 6b (Threatened).
Classification: Muran
Dialects: Múra. No remaining L1 speakers of Múra dialect (Crevels 2012).
Typology: SOV; 8 consonants and 3 vowels; whistle speech reported.
Language Use: Vigorous use of the Pirahã dialect. No remaining L1 speakers of Múra dialect (Crevels 2012). Some of all ages. Some also use Portuguese [por]. Many have shifted to it. Of those who have not, men understand it, but women understand very little and never use it to express themselves (Crevels 2007).
Language Development: Grammar. Bible portions: 1987.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Pirahã
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: In 1960s the population dwindled to 80 due to high infant mortality, death of mothers giving birth, and disease. Modern medicine helped population growth.

Location: Amazonas state: Maici and Autaces rivers.