Achagua language
Arawakan language of Colombia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Achagua, or Achawa (Achagua: Achawa), is an Arawakan language spoken in the Meta Department of Colombia, similar to Piapoco. It is estimated that 250 individuals speak the language, many of whom also speak Piapoco or Spanish.[1]
| Achagua | |
|---|---|
| Achawa | |
| Native to | Colombia |
| Region | Meta Department |
| Ethnicity | Achagua people |
Native speakers | (250 cited 2000)[1] |
Arawakan
| |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | aca |
| Glottolog | acha1250 Achaguapona1251 Ponares |
| ELP | Achagua |
| |
 Achagua is classified as Severely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. | |
"Achagua is a language of the Maipurean Arawakan group traditionally spoken by the Achagua people of Venezuela and east-central Colombia."[2]
A "Ponares" language is inferred from surnames, and may have been Achawa or Piapoco.
There is 1–5% literacy in Achagua.[1]
Phonology
Consonants
- /n/ is realized as [ɲ] when preceding palatal consonants.
- /k/ is palatalized [kʲ] when preceding /i/.
- Sounds /b, d/ are preglottalized [ˀb, ˀd] within accented syllables or after accented syllables.
- /b/ is realized as [β] when occurring intervocalically.
- /w/ is realized as [β] when preceding /i/.
- /s̪/ is realized as [ʃ] when preceding /i/.
- /ʝ/ is heard as an affricate [dʒ] in word-initial positions. It can also be realized as a glide [j] freely in intervocalic positions.
- /ɭ/ can be heard as a flap [ɾ] in free variation before /i/.[3]
Vowels
Vocabulary
| English | Spanish | Achagua |
|---|---|---|
| One | Uno | Báque |
| Two | Dos | Chámai |
| Three | Tres | Matálii |
| Four | Cuatro | Kuátru |
| Five | Cinco | Abakáahi |
| Black | Negro | Kachajulai |
| Canoe | Canoa | Íida |
| Dog | Perro | Áuli |
| Father | Padre | Nusálihina |
| Man | Hombre | Washiaáli |
| Moon | Luna | Quéerri |
| Mother | Madre | Nutúwa |
| Sun | Sol | Cáiwia |
| Water | Agua | Shiátai |
| White | Blanco | Kabalai |