World Languages/South America
South America includes 14 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands (United Kingdom), French Guiana (France), Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. Spanish is the official language of all South American countries except Brazil, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, and is spoken even in countries that are not historically Spanish. Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Official languages in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana are respectively English, Dutch and French.
Before colonization from European nations, South America was inhabited by several Aboriginal natives speaking a wide variety of languages from different language families, most of them being long forgotten now, but a lot are still known by few and are currently in danger of extinction. At the time of European contact, it is estimated that 1,500 languages were spoken in South America; only 350 of those languages are still spoken today. Quechua is the native language family with the most speakers.
The classification and studies of indigenous languages in South America is not very advanced compared to the classification of North American indigenous languages. As such, it is difficult to determine what languages are related to each other to develop proper language families.
List of indigenous languages
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This list only includes languages with living speakers.
- Akawaio (Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela)
- Arawak (French Guinea, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela)
- Achagua
- Alto Perene
- Amuesha
- Apuriña
- Asháninka/Ashéninka
- Baniva
- Barawana
- Baure
- Cabiyari
- Caquinte
- Chamicuro
- Enawene Nawe
- Iñapari
- Kinikinau
- Kurripako
- Lokono Dian
- Machiguenga
- Maliwan
- Marawa
- Mehináku
- Moxos: Trinitario, Ignaciano
- Nomatisguenga
- Palikúr
- Paraujano
- Paresí
- Piro
- Resígaro
- Saraveka
- Taíno (revitalization efforts)
- Tariana
- Terena
- Wapishana
- Waraikú
- Warekena
- Waurá
- Wayuunaíki
- Yavitero
- Yawalapiti
- Arutani (Brazil, Venezuela)
- Barí (Colombia, Venezuela)
- Carib (French Guinea, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela)
- Amonap
- Apalaí
- Arára
- Akuriyó
- Atruahí
- Bacairí
- Carijona
- Cumanagoto
- Galibi
- Hianákoto
- Hixkaryána
- Japréria
- Kapóng
- Macushi
- Mapoyo
- Opon
- Panare
- Pemon
- Salumá
- Tamanaku
- Tiriyó
- Txikão
- Waiwai
- Wayana
- Ye'kuana
- Yukpa
- Chaima (Venezuela)
- Cuiba (Colombia, Venezuela)
- Cumanagoto (Venezuela)
- E’ñapa Woromaipu (Venezuela)
- To be completed...
Other languages
[edit | edit source]- German, Colonia Tovar (Venezuela)
- To be completed...
Extinct languages
[edit | edit source]- Baniva
- To be completed...