Paraujano people The Paraujanos call themselves the Añu or Añun (means 'human being'), which is a self-denomination of the people. 'Paraujano' is better known in ethnographic literature. They received the name Paraujano from the neighboring
Guajiros. The combination of
palaa, meaning 'sea', and
anu͂ literally means 'people of the sea', or fishermen. The Paraujano live in
palafittes and are skilled at fishing and boating. According to a 2011 census, more than 21,000 people identify as Paraujano. and nearly extinct. The Maracaibo region began transforming into a largely populated industrial center in the early 1900s, as petroleum was extracted from the Maracaibo Lake. As the Paraujano mingled with others early on, their language was spread and spoken by some newcomers. However, by the 1970s there were only thirteen speakers remaining. As of 2014, there is one surviving fluent speaker, a thirty-year-old by the name of Yofri Márquez, who learned the language from his grandmother. There are a few partial speakers, most of whom are elderly. Revitalization efforts include Paraujano instruction in six regional elementary schools and the establishment of various cultural organizations. ==Classification==