Warao language

Warao appears to be a language isolate, unrelated to any recorded language in the region or elsewhere. Terrence Kaufman (1994) included it in his hypothetical Macro-Paezan family, but the necessary supporting work was never done. However, he has also derived Timucua morphemes from Muskogean, Chibchan, Paezan, Arawakan, and other Amazonian languages, suggesting multi-language creolization as a possible explanation for these similarities. Waroid hypothesis Granberry noted "Waroid" vocabulary items in Taíno, such as or [nosái] in the Ciboney dialect (cf. Warao ) and in Classic Taíno (cf. Warao ). He also finds such similarities with Guajiro; from toponymic evidence it seems that the Warao or a related people once occupied Goajiro country. Granberry & Vescelius (2004) note that toponymic evidence suggests that the pre-Taino Macorix language of Hispaniola and the Guanahatabey language of Cuba may have been Waroid languages as well. ==Language contact==

Jolkesky (2016) notes that there are lexical similarities with the Cariban, Arutani, Jukude, and Sape language families due to contact within an earlier Guiana Highlands interaction sphere. ==Geographical distribution==

The language had an estimated 28,100 speakers in Venezuela as of 2007. The Warao people live chiefly in the Orinoco Delta region of northeastern Venezuela, with smaller communities in southwestern Trinidad (Trinidad and Tobago), western Guyana and Suriname. The language is considered endangered by UNESCO. ==Varieties==

Historical sources mention ethnic groups in the Orinoco Delta such as Siawani (Chaguanes), Veriotaus (Farautes), and Tiuitiuas (Tibitíbis) that spoke Warao or languages closely related to modern Warao. Other extinct groups include: • Aricari and Pirao from Cayenne • Guaiqueri from Margarita Island Loukotka (1968) lists the following varieties: • Guanoco – spoken on the Laguna de Asfalto, state of Monagas (unattested) • Chaguan – spoken in the Orinoco Delta on the Manamo branch (unattested) • Mariusa – spoken in the same region on the Cocuina and Macareo branches Mason (1950) lists: • Waikeri (Guaiqueri) • Chaguan • Mariusa == Phonology ==

The Warao consonant inventory is small, but not quite as small as many other South American inventories. The labial plosive is usually realized as voiced . has an allophone word-initially and when between and . There are five oral vowels and five nasal vowels . After , in word-initial position, becomes . ==Grammar==

The language's basic word order has been analyzed as object–subject–verb, a very rare word order among nominative–accusative languages such as Warao. ==References==

• • Barral, Basilio de. 1979. Diccionario Warao-Castellano, Castellano-Warao. Caracas: UCAB • Figeroa, Andrés Romero. 1997. A Reference Grammar of Warao. München, Newcastle: Lincom • Ponce, Peter. 2004. Diccionario Español - Warao. Fundación Turismo de Pedernales. • Vaquero, Antonio. 1965. Idioma Warao. Morfología, sintaxis, literatura. Estudios Venezolanos Indígenas. Caracas. • Wilbert, Johannes. 1964. Warao Oral Litrerature. Instituto Caribe de Antropología y Sociología. Fundación La Salle de Ciencias Naturales. Monograph no 9 Caracas: Editorial Sucre. • Wilbert, Johannes. 1969. Textos Folklóricos de los Indios Warao. Los Angeles: Latin American Center. University of California. Latin American Studies Vol. 12. ==External links==