Xavánte

XAV

educational

Alternate Names: Akuên, Akwen, A’uwe Uptabi, A’we, Chavante, Crisca, Pusciti, Shavante, Tapacua

Genealogy:

Jean
Central

Demographics: 9,600 (Moore 2006). 7,000 monolinguals.

Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. 3,000 speak some Portuguese [por] with Brazilians only.

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 10%–30%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50% (most men, few women). Xavante teachers of Xavante reading and writing. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2004.

Typology: OSV.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Brazil

Other Comments: In 1950s contact with outsiders began and diseases killed hundreds. Forced to abandon seminomadic means of survival when placed on reservations. Learned swidden agriculture. During the transition many died. Traditional religion, Christian.