Terêna language

Arawakan language of Brazil From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Terêna or Etelena is an Arawakan language spoken by 15,000 Terenas. The language has a dictionary and written grammar.[2] Many Terena people have low Portuguese proficiency. It is spoken in Mato Grosso do Sul. About 20% are literate in their language, 80% literate in Portuguese.[citation needed]

NativetoBrazil
RegionMato Grosso do Sul
EthnicityTerena people
Native speakers
16,000 (2006)[1]
Quick facts Native to, Region ...
Terêna
Etelena
Native toBrazil
RegionMato Grosso do Sul
EthnicityTerena people
Native speakers
16,000 (2006)[1]
Arawakan
  • Southern
    • Bolivia–Parana
      • Terêna
Dialects
  • Terena proper
  • Chané †
  • Guaná †
  • Kinikinao †
Language codes
ISO 639-2ter
ISO 639-3Variously:
ter – Terena
gqn – Kinikinao & Guaná
caj – Chané
Glottologtere1279
ELPTerena
 Guana (Brazil)
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Terêna has an active–stative syntax[3] and verb-object-subject as default word order.[4]

Dialects

Terêna originally had four varieties: Kinikinao, Terena proper, Guaná, and Chané. These varieties have sometimes been considered to be separate languages.[3] Carvalho (2016) has since demonstrated all four to be the same language.[5] Only Terena proper is still spoken.

Language contact

Terena originated in the Northwestern Chaco.[6] As a result, many Northern Guaicuruan loanwords can be found in Terena.[7]

There are also many Tupi-Guarani loanwords in Terena and other southern Arawakan languages.[8]

Phonology

Consonants

More information Labial, Alveolar ...
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive voiceless p t (tʃ) k ʔ
prenasal ᵐb ⁿd ᵑɡ
Fricative voiceless s ʃ h
prenasal ⁿz ⁿʒ
Nasal m n (ɲ)
Tap ɾ
Lateral l (ʎ)
Approximant w ~ v j
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/w, ʃ, n, l/ may often be heard as [v, tʃ, ɲ, ʎ].[9]

Vowels

More information Front, Central ...
Front Central Back
High i ĩ iː (ɨ) u ũ uː
Mid e ẽ eː o õ oː
ɛ ɛː ɔ ɔː
Low a ã aː
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[ɨ] is heard as an allophone of /i/.[10]

See also

Notes

References

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