Native to Ecuador, Peru Language family Language isolate | Native speakers 1,700 (2004) | |
Region Oriente or Ecuadorian Amazon Ethnicity 1,800 Huaorani people (2012) Official language in Ecuador: indigenous languages official in own territories | ||
The Waorani (Huaorani) language, commonly known as Sabela (also Wao, Huao, Auishiri, Aushiri, Ssabela ; autonym: Wao Terero; pejorative: Auka, Auca) is a language isolate spoken by the Huaorani people, an indigenous group living in the Amazon Rainforest between the Napo and Curaray Rivers in Ecuador. A small number of speakers with so-called uncontacted groups may live in Peru.
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Phonology
Huaorani distinguishes nasal vowels from oral ones. Syllable structure is (C)V, with frequent vowel clusters.
Dialects
Huaorani has three dialects: Tiguacuna (Tiwakuna), Tuei (Tiwi Tuei, Tiwi), and Shiripuno.
Genetic relations
Sabela is not known to be related to any other language. However, it forms part of Terrence Kaufman's Yawan proposal.
References
Waorani language Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA