Xavánte | Ethnologue

A language of Brazil

ISO 639: xav
Alternate Names: A’uwe Uptabi, A’we, Akuên, Akwen, Awen, Chavante, Crisca, Pusciti, Shavante, Tapacua
Autonym: A’uwẽ
Population: 19,000 (2010 census). 7,000 monolinguals.
Location:: Mato Grosso state: 6 noncontiguous reservations. 80 villages.
Language Status: 5 (Developing).
Classification: Jean, Central
Typology: OSV; 11 consonants and 13 vowels, including 4 nasal vowels.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Many also use Portuguese [por]. About 3,000 speak it some, but with Brazilians only.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 10%–30%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50% (most men, few women). Xavante teachers of Xavante reading and writing. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2004.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Xavánte
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: In 1950s contact with outsiders began and diseases killed hundreds. Forced to abandon seminomadic means of survival when placed on reservations. Learned swidden agriculture. During the transition many died. Traditional religion, Christian.

Location: Mato Grosso state: 6 noncontiguous reservations. 80 villages.