Amahuaca

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A language of Peru

ISO 639-3
amc
Alternate Names
Amaguaco, Amawaka, Ameuhaque, Ipitineri, Sayaco
Population

90 in Peru (2000 SIL), decreasing. Population total all countries: 310. 20 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 500. 300 in Peru; 200 in Brazil; perhaps 50 not contacted in border areas. L2 users: A few women by reason of intermarriage with Amahuaca men use the language at home.

Location

Southeast Amazon basin, Ucayali and Madre de Dios regions scattered on Sepahua, Curiuja, Curanja, Upper Ucayali, Inuya, Mapuya, Purus, Aguaytía, Yuruá, and Las Piedras rivers.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Panoan, Mainline, Tri-State, Amawaka
Dialects

None known. Reportedly most similar to Kashinawa [cbs] and shipibo-Conibo [shp].

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

Group disintegrating and losing its identity due to intermarriage with others. No bilingual education program (2007). Home, village. Mainly older adults; only children in the most distant communities still acquire the language. Negative attitudes. Also use Sharanahua [mcd], Spanish [spa], Yaminahua [yaa].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 30%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1963–1997.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Amahuaca
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian (Protestant), Christian (Roman Catholic), traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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