Piapoco language

Piapoco is a branch of the Arawak language, which also includes Achagua and Tariana. Piapoco is considered a Northern Arawak language. There are only about 3,000 Piapoco speakers left today. These people live in the Meta, Vichada, and Guaviare rivers in Colombia Piapoco speakers also reside in Venezuela. It is an endangered language. The Piapoco people originally lived in the midsection of Rio Guaviare, later moving in the 18th century to avoid settlers, missionaries, and others. == Bilingualism ==

The word Piapoco is a Spanish nickname in reference to the toucan. This allows for a gradual convergence, where grammar and semantics of one language begin to replicate the other. ==Phonology==

Consonants • /s̪/ can be pronounced as among speakers who have had less contact with Spanish speakers. • /k/ can be palatalized as when after /i/, before another vowel. • /ts/ can be pronounced as in free variation among different speakers. • /w/ is pronounced as when preceding front vowels. Vowels Vowels can be nasalized [ã] when occurring before nasal consonants. == Grammar ==

A Piapoco-Spanish dictionary containing 2,500 words was written by Deloris Klumpp, in which botanical identification of plants were captured, although not all. == References ==