Amahuaca

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A language of Peru

ISO 639-3
amc
Alternate Names
Amaguaco, Amawaka, Ameuhaque, Ipitineri, Sayaco
Population

90 in Peru (2000 SIL), decreasing. 20 monolinguals. Population total all countries: 310. Ethnic population: 500 (300 in Peru and 200 in Brazil). Perhaps 50 not contacted in border areas.

Location

Southeast Amazon basin, Ucayali and Madre de Dios regions scattered on Sepahua, Curiuja, Curanja, Upper Ucayali, Inuya, Mapuya, Purus, Aguaytía, Yuruá, and Las Piedras rivers. Also in Brazil.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Panoan, Mainline, Tri-State, Amawaka
Dialects

Most similar to Kashinawa [cbs] and Shipibo-Conibo [shp].

Typology

SOV

Language Use

Group disintegrating and losing its identity due to intermarriage with others. No bilingual education program (2007). Home, village. Mainly older adults; only children in the most distant communities still acquire the language. Negative attitudes. Also use some Spanish [spa], Yaminahua [yaa], or Sharanahua [mcd].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 30%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1963–1997.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Amahuaca
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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