Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Mamaindê language

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Native to
  
Brazil

Language family
  
NambikwaranMamaindê

Region
  
Mato Grosso

Linguist list
  
xyl Yalakalore

Native speakers
  
250 (2009) to 340 (2007–2010)

ISO 639-3
  
Variously:wmd – Mamaindé properltn – Latundêlkd – Lakondêxtw – Tawandêxyl – Yalakalore (presumed but unattested)apv – Alapmunte

Mamaindê, also known as Northern Nambikwara, is a Nambikwaran language spoken in the Mato Grosso state of Brazil, in the very north of the indigenous reserve, Terra Indígena Vale do Guaporé, between the Pardo and Cabixi Rivers. In the southern part of the reserve, speakers of Sabanê and Southern Nambikwara are found.

Contents

Varieties

Among the Nambikwaran languages, at least Northern (Mamainde), Southern (Nambikwara), and Sabane are mutually unintelligible. Mamainde, however, is a dialect cluster, and its varieties are sometimes considered distinct languages. The following distinctions are made by Eberhard (2009). Population figures are those of Ethnologue 16, dated 2007:

  • Mamaindê proper (including Nagarotê, 330 speakers)
  • Latundê (20)
  • Lakondê (1)
  • Tawaindê (or Da’wan’du; unattested and speakers unknown)
  • Yalakalore (extinct and unattested)
  • Yalapmunde (Alapmunte; extinct and unattested)

    • Yelelihre is another unattested Nambikwaran variety.

    Distribution

    Anonby & Eberhard (2008:4) list geographic locations for the following 3 Northern Nambikuara language varieties.

  • The Mamaindê (population: 200) live in Capitão Pedro, Mato Grosso, a village located near Vilhena, Rondônia.
  • The Negarotê (population: 100) live in a main village near the town of Comodoro, Mato Grosso, as well as another village close to the town of Nova Alvorada, Mato Grosso.
  • The Latundê (population: 20) live in the Tubarão-Latundê reserve, located about 150 kilometres west of Vilhena, Rondônia. The reserve has 3 villages.
  • Rio do Ouro: mostly ethnic Aikanã
  • Gleba: contains ethnic Aikanã, Kwazá, and Latundê
  • Barroso: mostly ethnic Latundê

    • Phonology

    The following description is based on Mamaindê proper.

    Vowels

    Mamaindê has five vowels:

    Each of the vowels have a nasalized counterpart.

    Consonants

    Mamaindê has 14 consonants:

    References

    Mamaindê language Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


    Similar Topics