Kawishana language
Extinct Arawakan language of Brazil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kawishana (Cawishana, Kayuwishana)[2] is a nearly extinct Arawakan language of Brazil. A few speakers were reported in the 1950s, and today, as of 2012, only one person can speak it. It has an active–stative syntax.
Classification
Aikhenvald (1999) classifies it as a Middle Rio Negro, North Amazonian language, along with Bahuana and Manao.
Kaufman (1994) had placed it in a branch of Western Nawiki Upper Amazonian along with two long-extinct languages, Jumana (Yumana) and Pasé, which Aikhenvald leaves unclassified.
Ruhlen (1987) classified it as a Rio Negro language, along with Yumana, Pasé and Manao.[3]
