Cumanagoto language
Extinct Cariban language of Venezuela
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cumanagoto (Cumanogota, Cumaná, Kumaná, Cumanagoto: choto maimuru), also Itoto Majun, Palank, Pariagoto or Tamanaku, is a nearly extinct[2] Cariban language of eastern coastal Venezuela. It is the language of the Cumanagoto people and other nations. Extinct dialects include Palenque (presumably Palank), Piritu (Piritugoto), and Avaricoto.[3]
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Venezuelan Carib
- Mapoyo–Tamanaku
- Cumanagoto
- Mapoyo–Tamanaku
| Cumanagoto | |
|---|---|
| Kumana | |
| choto maimuru | |
| Native to | Venezuela |
| Ethnicity | Cumanagoto people |
Native speakers | 49 (2012)[1] |
Cariban
| |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | cuo |
| Glottolog | cuma1240 |
| Linguasphere | 83-OBB-bb |
 | |
History
In the Venezuelan states of Anzoátegui, Sucre, Monagas, Miranda, Aragua, and Carabobo, a number of Indigenous peoples are reported by colonial sources, including the Cumanagotos, Pariagotos, Chaimas, Chacopatas, Píritus, Cuacas, Palenques, Mariches, Caracas, and Teques. Despite this diversity, there was a distinctive linguistic homogeneity in the region. Reports indicate that a singular language was spoken in this region with only minor dialectal variations spoken by the different peoples. The language was referred natively as choto maimuru.[4] Following colonial reports in the 17th century, the Indigenous peoples of the region became acculturated and blended into the mestizo population.[5] Despite this, 49 people were reported to speak the language in 2012.[1] A language revitalization program has started.[6]
Phonology
Consonants
/w/ may also be pronounced as [ꞵ]. The phoneme represented as ⟨r⟩ is most likely the lateral tap [ɺ] as found in Kari'nja and Pemon. Occlusives may also be voiced allophonically; this is reflected in the transcription of the sources. /n/ may be palatalized to [ɲ] next to /i/ or /j/. /s, t/ may be realized as ⟨ch⟩. /j/ is pronounced [d] between two /a/ vowels.[4]
Vowels
The vowel /ɨ/ is written as ⟨ui⟩ in colonial-era sources.[4]