Piaroa language
Indigenous language of Venezuela and Colombia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Piaroa is an Indigenous language of Venezuela and Colombia by the Piaroa people. Loukotka (1968) reports that it is spoken along the Sipapo River, Orinoco River, and Ventuari River.[2]
The Wirö language (commonly called the pejorative term "Maco") is closely related, the two forming the Piaroan branch of the family.[3]
Alternate names
Piaroa is called by many names, including variations of Wotuja[4] and Huottüja. It is also called Guagua, Kuakua, Quaqua, Adole, Ature, and Wo’tiheh.
Phonology
Palatalization of /k, kʰ, kʼ, hˣ/ may occur when before front vowels as [kʲ, kʲʰ, kʲʼ, hʲ].
/pʰ/ may also be heard as a fricative [ɸ] in free variation.
Sounds /j/ and /t͡ʃ/ may have allophones of [dʲ, t͡s].
Vowels /ɤ, ɑ/ are rounded as [o, ɒ] when after labial sounds.[5]
