Timbira | |
---|---|
Canela-Krahô | |
Spoken in | Brazil |
Region | Maranhão, Pará, Tocantins |
Native speakers | ca. 4,500 (1995–2005) |
Language family | |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | variously: ram – Canela xre – Kreye xra – Krahô xri – Krinkati-Timbira gvp – Parakatêjê (Pará Gavião) |
Timbira is a dialect continuum of Ge languages of Brazil. The various varieties are distinct enough to sometimes be considered separate languages. The principal varieties, Krahô (Craó), and Kanela (Canela), have 2000 speakers apiece, few of whom speak Portuguese. Kreye, however, is nearly extinct, with only 30 speakers in 1995.