Native to Colombia, Brazil ISO 639-3 des | Region Amazonas Glottolog desa1247 | |
Native speakers 3,400 (1995 – 2001 census) Language family Tucanoan
Eastern
Central
Desano–Siriano
Desano | ||
Desano language
Contents
Desano is a Tucanoan language of Colombia and Brazil. There are several alternative names, including Boleka, Desâna, and Kusibi. It is located primarily in the Northwest Brazil and Southern Colombia.
Location
The primary concentration of Desano people is on the Tiquié River in Brazil and Colombia. This region is populated by a number of other ethnic communities, most notably the Hup people, with whom they share several linguistic and cultural characteristics.
Characteristics
The Desano language has 90% lexical similarity to the Siriano language. The language is reported to have a form of whistled speech.
History
The Desano people have faced influence from outsiders when the Spanish and Portuguese explored the region. These people brought outside illnesses, one being measles, which negatively impacted the surrounding communities. These explorers also introduced Christianity into the region.