Barí

A language of Colombia

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Barira, Cunausaya, Dobocubi, Motilón, Motilone

Population

3,500 in Colombia (Civallero 2008). Population total all countries: 5,270.

Location

Norte de Santander Department, Serranía de los Motilones, Upper Catatumbo and Oro River region, Reserva Indígena Motilón-Barí and Resguardo Indígena Gabarra-Catalaura. Also in Venezuela.

Language Maps

Northern Colombia

Venezuela

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification

Chibchan, Chibchan B, Eastern Chibchan, Colombian, Southern Colombian

Language Development

Dictionary. Bible portions.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Barí

Other Comments

Classification as Chibchan has been questioned (1973 M. Durbin); Alternatively classified as Arawakan (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977).

Also spoken in:

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Venezuela

Language nameBarí

Population

1,770 in Venezuela (2001 census). Significant number are still monolingual (Crevels 2007). Ethnic population: 2,200.

Location

Venezuela-Colombia border, Zulia State, Sierra de Perijá southern zone, to Yukpa territory north and Catatumbo river south.

Alternate Names

Motilón, Motilone

Status

6b (Threatened).

Language Use

Also use Spanish [spa].

Other Comments

Unrelated to Carib Motilón [yup] (Yukpa). M. Durbin questions its classification as Chibchan; Voegelin and Voegelin 1977 classify it as Arawakan.

View other languages of Venezuela

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Barí

A language of Colombia

Also spoken in:

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Barí

A language of Colombia

Also spoken in: