Ninam language


Yanam, or Ninam, is a Yanomaman language spoken in Roraima, Brazil and southern Venezuela near the Mucajai, upper Uraricaá, and Paragua rivers.

Synonymy

Yanam is also known by the following names: Ninam, Yanam–Ninam, Xirianá, Shiriana Casapare, Kasrapai, Jawaperi, Crichana, Jawari, Shiriana, Eastern Yanomaman.

Regional variation

Gordon reports 2 main varieties. Kaufman reports 3:
  1. Yanam
  2. Ninam
  3. Jawarib
The name Jawari is shared with Yaroamë.

Phonology

Yanam has seven base vowels: /a, e, ə, i, ɨ, o, u/. Yanam has both vowel length and nasalization, and both features can occur simultaneously, for all vowels except for /ɨ/.