Guahibo

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A language of Colombia

ISO 639-3

guh

Alternate Names

Goahibo, Goahiva, Guaigua, Guajibo, Guayba, Hiwi, Jive, Wahibo, Wahivo, “Sicuani” (pej.), “Sikuani” (pej.)

Autonym

Hivi

Population

23,000 (Arango Ochoa and Sánchez Gutierrez 1998). 9,200 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 23,000 (Crevels 2011). Total users in all countries: 35,000.

Location

Arauca, Casanare, Guainía, Guaviare, Meta, and Vichada departments: plains region, border areas.

Language Maps

Colombia

Venezuela

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification

Guajiboan, Guajibo

Dialects

Guahibo (Sikuani), Amorua (Rio Tomo Guahibo), Tigrero, Vichadeño. Guahiban languages may not be within Arawakan.

Typology

SOV, SVO.

Language Use

Also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 45%. Literacy rate in L2: 45%. Primary schools in most areas. Secondary schools in some areas. Literature. Newspapers. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1982–2011.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Guahibo

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Río Tomo Guahibo are nomadic. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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Venezuela

Language nameGuahibo

Population Full

12,000 (Crevels 2011). 37% urban (2001 census). Ethnic population: 14,800 (Crevels 2011).

Location

Amazonas, Apure, and Bolívar states; Upper Orinoco and Meta rivers, Orinoco river from Caicaro de Orinoco.

Alternate Names

Guajibo, Hivi, Hiwi, Jivi, Jiwi, Sikuani, Wahibo

Status

6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2008, Indigenous Languages Law, Article 4).

Language Use

1,760 do not speak Guahibo.

Other Comments

Dispute about whether Guahiban languages are in the Arawakan language family.

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Ethnologue

Guahibo

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A language of Colombia

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