Desano

A language of Brazil

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Boleka, Desâna, Dessano, Kusibi, Oregu, Uina, Wina, Wirã

Population

960 in Brazil (1995 SIL). Population total all countries: 3,420. Ethnic population: 1,530 (Moore 2006).

Location

Northwestern Amazonas, Terra Indígena Alto Rio Negro, region along the border with Colombia, sixty communities and sites along the margins of the Tiquié river and its tributaries. Also in Colombia.

Language Maps

Northwestern Brazil

Southern Colombia

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification

Tucanoan, Eastern Tucanoan, Desano-Siriano

Dialects

Lexical similarity: 90% with Siriano [sri].

Typology

Whistle speech reported

Language Use

The people generally use Tucano [tuo] instead of Desano.

Language Development

Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1984–2011.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Desano

Writing

Latin script.

Also spoken in:

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Colombia

Language nameDesano

Population

2,460 in Colombia (2001 census).

Location

Papurí and Abiyu rivers (tributary of the Vaupés), Pacá river (tributary of the Papurí), Macú Parana river (tributary of the Papurí), plus other tributaries of the Papurí. Villa Fátima village and Montfort, Piracuara, Acaricuara, and Teresita missions.

Alternate Names

Boleka, Desána, Dessana, Kotedia, Kusibi, Oregu, Wina, Wira

Status

6b (Threatened).

Language Use

The language is used almost exclusively in their own villages (Crevels 2007). Positive attitudes. Also use Tucano [tuo] and at least one other Tucanoan language spoken by their mothers. Many are bilingual in Spanish [spa] (Crevels 2007).

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 30%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–35%.

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Desano

A language of Brazil

Also spoken in:

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Desano

A language of Brazil

Also spoken in: