Pirahã
PrintA language of Brazil
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Múra-Pirahã
Population
360 (2000 ISA). Most are monolingual. Ethnic population: 1,500 (1995 SIL). Pirahã small group, Múra larger.
Location
Amazonas, along Maici and Autaces rivers.
Language Maps
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Classification
Dialects
Múra.
Typology
SOV; whistle speech reported
Language Use
Vigorous. Most men understand Portuguese [por]; women understand very little and never use it to express themselves. The Múra have mostly shifted to Portuguese (Crevels 2007).
Language Development
Grammar. Bible portions: 1987.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script.
In 1960s the population dwindled to 80 due to high infant mortality, death of mothers giving birth, and disease. Modern medicine helped population growth.