Amahuaca

AMC

shifting

Alternate Names: Amaguaco, Amawaka, Ameuhaque, Ipitineri, Sayaco

Dialects: None known. Reportedly most similar to Kashinawa , and shipibo-Conibo ,.

Genealogy:

Panoan
Mainline
Tri-State
Amawaka

Demographics: 90 in Peru (2000 SIL), decreasing. Population total all countries: 310. 20 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 500. 300 in Peru; 200 in Brazil; perhaps 50 not contacted in border areas. L2 users: A few women by reason of intermarriage with Amahuaca men use the language at home.

Language Use: Group disintegrating and losing its identity due to intermarriage with others. No bilingual education program (2007). Home, village. Mainly older adults; only children in the most distant communities still acquire the language. Negative attitudes. Also use Sharanahua [mcd], Spanish [spa], Yaminahua [yaa].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 30%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1963–1997.

Typology: SOV.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Peru

Other Comments: Christian (Protestant), Christian (Roman Catholic), traditional religion.