Emerillon

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A language of French Guiana

ISO 639-3
eme
Alternate Names
Emereñon, Emerilon, Melejo, Mereo, Mereyo, Teco, Teko
Population

400 (2001), increasing. Ethnic population: 400 (Crevels 2007).

Location

Maroni river area, on Suriname border; Brazil border area, at the confluence of Camopi and Oiapock rivers.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Wayampí, Wayampí
Dialects

Mutually intelligible with Wayampi [oym].

Typology

SOV (rather free); postpositions, noun head generally final, no noun classes or genders, content q-word in initial position, up to 3 prefixes, verbal affixation marks person and number, both tense and aspect, no passives; nontonal; 16 consonant and 7 vowel phonemes

Language Use

All educated persons also used French [fra], 6–60 years old for men, less for women. Men may also speak Guianese Creole French [gcr] and Portuguese [por] as well (F. Rose).

Language Development
Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Emerillon
Other Comments

Some borrowing from Wayana [way] or Carib [car]. Intermarriage with Wayana or Wayampi [oym].