List of endangered languages in South America

Wikipedia

Language Endangerment Status
Extinct (EX)
Endangered
Safe
  • no list

Other categories

Related topics

UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger category
UNESCO Atlas of the World's
Languages in Danger categories

An endangered language is a language that it is at risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If it loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language. UNESCO defines four levels of language endangerment between "safe" (not endangered) and "extinct":[1]

  • Vulnerable
  • Definitely endangered
  • Severely endangered
  • Critically endangered

South America is a continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest.

Argentina

Language Comments Speakers Source
Eastern Bolivian Guaraní language51,000Red Book
Eklenhui language800
Iyo'wujwa Chorote language1,900
Mapuche language260,000Red Book
Mbyá Guaraní language15,050Red Book
Mocoví language3,000Red Book
Nivaclé language14,000Red Book
Pilagá language4,000Red Book
Santiagueño Quechua language60,000Red Book
Toba Qom language31,580Red Book
Weenhayek language1,900
Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz language31,500
Wiznay language26,500

Bolivia

Language Comments Speakers Source
Araona language110Red Book
Ayoreo language4,700Red Book
Baure language20
Bororo language1,400Red Book
Cavineña language600Red Book
Chácobo-Pakawara language1,150Red Book
Chimané language5,300Red Book
Chipaya language1,800Red Book
Chiquitano language2,400Red Book
Eastern Bolivian Guaraní language51,000Red Book
Ese Ejja language700Red Book
Guarayu language8,400Red Book
Ignaciano languageunknownRed Book
Itonama language1
Iyo'wujwa Chorote language1,900
Kallawaya languageRitual language of the Kallawaya peoplenoneRed Book
Leco language20 (2001 Simon van de Kerke)
Machinere language1,080Red Book
Movima language1,400Red Book
Nivaclé language14,000Red Book
Pakawara language50
Pauna language10Red Book
Reyesano language12-15
Sirionó language300Red Book
Tacana language1,200Red Book
Toba Qom language31,580Red Book
Toromona language200Red Book
Trinitario languageunknownRed Book
Yaminawa language2,729Red Book
Yuqui language120Red Book
Yuracaré language2,700Red Book

Brazil

Language Comments Speakers Source
Anambe language7 (1991 SIL)
77 (1993 SIL)
Apiaca language2 (1986 Rodrigues)
Arikapu language6 (1998 SIL)
Arua language12 (1990)
Arutani language17 in Brazil (1986 SIL)
Population total all countries: 19
Cafundo Creole language40 (1978 M Gnerre, U Estadual de Campinas).
Guato language40 (1993 SIL)
382 (1993 SIL).
Himarima language40.
Jabuti language5 (1990).
Juma language4 (1998)
There were 300 in 1940.
Karahawyana dialect40 (1995 SIL).
Karipuna language12 to 15 (2000 SIL).
Katawixi language10 (1986 SIL).
Katukina language1 (1976 SIL) 360.
Kreye language30 (1995 SIL).
Mapidian language50 in Brazil (1986 Howard).
Monde language30 (1995 AMTB).
Ofaye language15 (2002)
37 (1995 AMTB).
Oro Win language5 (1996 SIL)
55 (1998).
Piraha language150 speakers in 2004.
Ethnic population: 200.
 
Purubora language2 (2002 SIL).
Sikiana language33 in Brazil (1986 SIL)
Population total all countries: 48.
Tariano language100 in Brazil (1996 A Aikhenvald)
1,500 in Brazil (1985 Rodrigues).
Torá language40 (1990)
120 (1990 YWAM).
Xipaya language2 (2000 SIL).

Chile

Language Comments Speakers Source
Aymara language1.7 millionRed Book
Huilliche languagefewRed Book
Kawésqar languageAlso known as Alacalufe20 (1996 Oscar Aguilera)
Population includes 10 in Puerto Eden.
Red Book
Mapuche language260,000Red Book

Colombia

Ecuador

Language Comments Speakers Source
Shiwiar language7,970Red Book
Awa Pit language13,000Red Book
Cha'palaa language5,870Red Book
Cofán language1,000Red Book
Eperara language3,600Red Book
Waorani language2,000Red Book
Secoya language1,200Red Book
Shuar language35,000Red Book
Siona language500Red Book
Tsafiki language2,300Red Book
Zaparo language1 (2000 SIL)

French Guiana

Language Comments Speakers Source
Arawak language2,500Red Book
Carib language8,600Red Book
Emerillon language400Red Book
Palikúr language1,500Red Book
Wayana language1,700Red Book
Wayampi language1,200Red Book

Guyana

Language Comments Speakers Source
Akawaio languageRed Book
Arekuna languageRed Book
Karina languageRed Book
Lokono languageRed Book
Makushi languageRed Book
Mawayana language50 (1986 Howard)
Patamona languageRed Book
Wapishana languageRed Book
Warao languageRed Book

Paraguay

Language Comments Speakers Source
Ache languageRed Book
Angaite languageRed Book
Ava-Guarani languageRed Book
Ayoreo languageRed Book
Enlhet languageRed Book
Guana languageRed Book
Guarani-Nandeva languageRed Book
Guarayo languageRed Book
Ishir languageRed Book
Maka languageRed Book
Manjui languageRed Book
Mbya languageRed Book
Nivacle languageRed Book
Pai-Tavytera languageRed Book
Sanapana languageRed Book
Toba-Maskoy languageRed Book
Toba-Qom languageRed Book

Peru

Language Comments Speakers Source
Achuar-Shiwiar languageRed Book
Aguaruna languageRed Book
Amahuaca languageRed Book
Andoa-Shimigae languageRed Book
Arabela languageRed Book
Bora languageRed Book
Campa Ashaninca languageRed Book
Campa Asheninca languageRed Book
Campa Caquinte languageRed Book
Campa Nomatsiguenga languageRed Book
Candoshi-Shapra languageRed Book
Capanahua languageRed Book
Cashibo-Cacataibo languageRed Book
Cashinahua languageRed Book
Chamicuro language2 (2000 Adelaar)
10 to 20 (2000 Adelaar).
Chayahuita languageRed Book
Cocama-Cocamilla languageRed Book
Culina languageMadija1300[2]Red Book
Ese Eja languageRed Book
Harakmbut languageRed Book
Huambisa languageRed Book
Huitoto languageRed Book
Inapari language4 (1999 SIL)
Iquito language35 (2002 SIL)
1 monolingual 500.
Isconahua language82 (2000 WCD)
Jaqaru languageRed Book
Jebero language2,000 to 3,000 (2000 W Adelaar).
Machiguenga languageRed Book
Mashco Piro language20 to 100 (1976 SIL)
All are completely monolingual.
Matses-Mayoruna languageRed Book
Ocaina languageRed Book
Omagua language10 to 100 in Peru (1976 SIL)
Population total all countries: 10 to 100
627 (1976).
Orejon languageRed Book
Piro language20 to 100 in 1976Red Book
Resigaro language14 (1976 SIL).
Secoya languageRed Book
Sharanahua languageRed Book
Shipibo-Conibo languageRed Book
Taushiro language1 (2002 SIL).
Ticuna languageRed Book
Urarina languageRed Book
Wariapano languageRed Book
Yagua languageRed Book
Yaminahua languageRed Book
Yanesha languageRed Book
Yora languageRed Book

Suriname

Language Comments Speakers Source
Akurio language10 (2000 E.B. Carlin)
Carib languageRed Book
Lokono languageRed Book
Mawayana languageRed Book
Sikiana language15 in Suriname (2001 Carlin).
Trio languageRed Book
Tunayana languageRed Book
Wayana languageRed Book

Venezuela

Language Comments Speakers Source
Akawaio languageRed Book
Anun languageRed Book
Arutani language2 in Venezuela (2002 SIL).
Baniva languageRed Book
Bari languageRed Book
Cuiba languageRed Book
Guahibo languageRed Book
Guajiro languageRed Book
Hoti languageRed Book
Karina languageRed Book
Kurripako languageRed Book
Lokono languageRed Book
Mako languageextinctRed Book
Makushi languageRed Book
Mandahuaca languageRed Book
Mapoyo language3 (2000 Muller).
Nengatu languageRed Book
Panare languageRed Book
Patamona languageRed Book
Pemono language1 (2000 M-C Mattei Muller)
Pepojivi languageRed Book
Piapoko languageRed Book
Piaroa languageRed Book
Puinave languageRed Book
Sape language5 (2007)
Saliva languageRed Book
Sanema languageRed Book
Tunebo languageRed Book
Uruak languageRed Book
Warao languageRed Book
Warekena languageRed Book
Yabarana language20 (1977 Migliazza).
Yanam languageRed Book
Yanomam languageRed Book
Yanomami languageRed Book
Yaruro languageRed Book
Yekuana languageRed Book
Yukpa languageRed Book

References

  1. Moseley, Christopher, ed. (2010). Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger. Memory of Peoples (3rd ed.). Paris: UNESCO Publishing. ISBN 978-92-3-104096-2. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
  2. Boyer, Cindy and Jim Boyer (2001). Culina (Madija) Bani Tahimari = Cuentos de Animales. Mexico AFD: Instituto Linguistico de Verano. Archived 2012-03-14 at the Wayback Machine