Barí

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A language of Colombia

ISO 639-3

mot

Alternate Names

Bari, Barira, Cunausaya, Dobocubi, Motilón, Motilone

Population

3,500 in Colombia (Civallero 2008). Total users in all countries: 5,000.

Location

Cesar department: Chimichagua, La Gloria, and Pailitas municipalities; Norte de Santander department: Reserva Indígena Motilón-Barí and Resguardo Indígena Gabarra-Catalaura in Upper Catatumbo and Oro rivers and Serranía de los Motilones region.

Language Maps

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

1,500 in Venezuela (Crevels 2007). Significant number are still monolingual (Crevels 2007). Ethnic population: 2,200.

Location

Zulia state: Sierra de Perijá southern zone, to Yukpa territory north and Catatumbo river south.

Alternate Names

Bari, 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; also classified as Arawakan (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977).

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Ethnologue

Barí

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A language of Colombia

Also spoken in:

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