Languages
There were 39 Zaparoan-speaking tribes at the beginning of the 20th century, every one of them presumably using its own distinctive language or dialect. Most of them have become extinct before being recorded, however, and we have information only about nine of them.
- Zaparo group
- Záparo–Conambo
- Záparo (a few speakers left)
- Conambo †
- Arabela–Andoa
- Arabela (50 speakers)
- Andoa †
- Záparo–Conambo
- Iquito–Cahuarano
- Iquito (35 speakers)
- Cahuarano †
- Unclassified
- Aushiri †
- ? Omurano †
Aushiri and Omurano are included by Stark (1985). Aushiri is generally accepted, but Omurano remains unclassified.
Read more about this topic: Zaparoan Languages
Famous quotes containing the word languages:
“Science and technology multiply around us. To an increasing extent they dictate the languages in which we speak and think. Either we use those languages, or we remain mute.”
—J.G. (James Graham)
“No doubt, to a man of sense, travel offers advantages. As many languages as he has, as many friends, as many arts and trades, so many times is he a man. A foreign country is a point of comparison, wherefrom to judge his own.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882)
“The less sophisticated of my forbears avoided foreigners at all costs, for the very good reason that, in their circles, speaking in tongues was commonly a prelude to snake handling. The more tolerant among us regarded foreign languages as a kind of speech impediment that could be overcome by willpower.”
—Barbara Ehrenreich (b. 1941)