Mawayana

A language of Guyana

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Mahuayana

Population

50 in Guyana (1986 C. Howard). Population total all countries: 60.

Location

Southwest Guyana, living with the Waiwai [waw] language group. Also in Suriname.

Language Maps

Language Status

8b (Nearly extinct).

Classification

Dialects

No semantic similarity with and not related to Wapishana [wap], Atorada [aox], or Mapidian [mpw] (2002 R. Hicks).

Language Use

Also use Waiwai [waw].

Language Resources

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

Suriname

Language nameMawayana

Population

10 in Suriname (Crevels 2007), decreasing. Ethnic population: 60 (Crevels 2007).

Status

8b (Nearly extinct).

Language Use

Speakers 80 and older. Most speak Trio [tri] as L1 (Crevels 2007).