Ethnologue 14 report for language code:CRB

CARIB: a language of Venezuela

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: CRB

ISO 639-2: car

Population

4,000 to 5,000 in Venezuela (1978 J.C. Mosonyi). Population total all countries 10,000 (1991).

Region

Monagas and Anzoategui states, northeast near Orinoco River mouth, plus a few communities in Bolivar State, just south of Orinoco. Also spoken in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname.

Alternate names

CARIBE, CARIÑA, KALIHNA, KALINYA, GALIBI

Dialects

TABAJARI, CHAYMA (CHAIMA, SAYMA, WARAPICHE, GUAGA-TAGARE).

Classification

Carib, Northern, Galibi.

Comments

The Chayma people are probably bilingual or monolingual in Spanish. The very old and very young are monolingual. Quite well integrated into Venezuelan culture, though they do speak their own language among themselves. Bible portions 1994.

Also spoken in:

Brazil

Language name	CARIB
Population	100 or more in Brazil (1995 SIL).
Alternate names	CARIBE, CARIÑA, KALIHNA, KALINYA, GALIBÍ, MARAWORNO, MARWORNO
Dialects	TYREWUJU (EASTERN CARIB).
Comments	Called 'Galibi' in Brazil. Portuguese-Carib creole people (Galibí do Uaça) also speak Crioulo (French Creole). Bible portions 1994. See main entry under Venezuela.

French Guiana

Language name	CARIB
Population	1,200 in French Guiana.
Alternate names	CARIBE, CARIÑA, KALIHNA, KALINYA, GALIBI
Dialects	TYREWUJU (EASTERN CARIB).
Comments	Bible portions 1994. See main entry under Venezuela.

Guyana

Language name	CARIB
Population	475 or more in Guyana (1991) out of 2,700 in the ethnic group (1990 J. Forte).
Alternate names	CARIBE, CARIÑA, KALIHNA, KALINYA, GALIBI
Dialects	MURATO (MYRATO, WESTERN CARIB).
Comments	The ethnic group in Guyana represents 6% of the Amerindians. Bible portions 1994. See main entry under Venezuela.

Suriname

Language name	CARIB
Population	2,390 in Suriname villages (1980 census).
Alternate names	CARIBE, CARIÑA, KALIHNA, KALINYA, KALI'NA, GALIBÍ, MARAWORNO
Dialects	MURATO (MYRATO, WESTERN CARIB), TYREWUJU (EASTERN CARIB).
Comments	Speakers of the central dialect are reported to be bilingual and switching to Sranan. They also speak Dutch as second language. All ages in some areas. The eastern dialect is the prestige dialect in Suriname. Their own name for the language is 'Kari'na auran', 'Kari'na' for the people. The name in Dutch is 'Kara'ibs', in French 'Galibi', in Spanish 'Caribe', in English 'Carib.' Dictionary. Grammar. Literacy rate in first language: Below 1%. Literacy rate in second language: 25% to 50%. Bible portions 1992-1996. See main entry under Venezuela.