Cahuapanan languages
The Cahuapanan languages are a language family spoken in the Amazon basin of northern Peru. They include two languages, Chayahuita and Jebero, which are spoken by more than 11,300 people. Chayahuita is spoken by most of that number, but Jebero is almost extinct.Jolkesky notes that there are lexical similarities with the Kechua, Arawak, Kandoshi, Pukina, and Karib language families due to contact.Varieties
- Chayahuita or Chawi
- * Chayahuita dialect
- * Cahuapana dialect
- Jebero
Glottolog classifies the extinct language Maynas as close to Chawi.
Other Cahuapanan varieties that are listed by Loukotka :
- Yamorai - spoken on the Sillai River in Loreto Department
- Ataguate - extinct language of the same region, once spoken on the Aipena River and around Lake Atagua
- Pamdabegue - once spoken on the Aipena River and Paranapura River in Loreto Department
- Miguira - extinct language once spoken in a single village on the Paranapura River
Proto-language
Rojas-Berscia (2019)
Rojas-Berscia gives the following forms for Proto-Kawapanan, along with their respective Shawi, and Shiwilu reflexes.Valenzuela gives the following Swadesh list table for the Proto-Cahuapana, Jebero, and Chayahuita.Vocabulary
Loukotka (1968)
lists the following basic vocabulary items for the Cahuapanan languages.
