Pirahã

MYP

vigorous

Alternate Names: Múra-Pirahã

Dialects: Múra.

Genealogy:

Muran

Demographics: 360 (2000 ISA). Most are monolingual. Ethnic population: 1,500 (1995 SIL). Pirahã is a small group, Múra much larger.

Language Use: Vigorous. Most men understand Portuguese [por]; women understand very little and never use it to express themselves. The Múra have mostly shifted to Portuguese (Crevels 2007).

Language Development: Grammar. Bible portions: 1987.

Typology: SOV; whistle speech reported.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Brazil

Other Comments: In 1960s the population dwindled to 80 due to high infant mortality, death of mothers giving birth, and disease. Modern medicine helped population growth.