Chayahuita language

Chayahuita
Cahuapana
Shawi
Native to Perú
Ethnicity 12,000 (2007)[1]
Native speakers
7,900  (2007)[1]
Cahuapanan
  • Chayahuita
Language codes
ISO 639-3 cbt
Glottolog chay1248[2]

Chayahuita is an indigenous American language spoken by thousands of native Chayahuita people in South America. Spoken along the banks of the Paranapura, Cahuapanas, Sillay, and Shanusi rivers. Also known as Chayawita, Shawi, Chawi, Tshaahui, Chayhuita, Chayabita, Shayabit, Balsapuertino, Paranapura, and Cahuapa. 1-5% literacy rate, compared with 5-15% for Spanish. Dictionary since 1978. Can not be understood by Jebero speakers, although there is some overlap in vocabulary, especially certain Quechua terms.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Chayahuita at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
  2. Nordhoff, Sebastian; Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2013). "Chayahuita". Glottolog. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.