List of endangered languages in South America

An endangered language is a language that it is at risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If it loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language. UNESCO defines four levels of language endangerment between "safe" (not endangered) and "extinct": Vulnerable Definitely endangered Severely endangered Critically endangered

South America is a continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest.

Argentina

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSourceEastern Bolivian Guaraní language 51,000Red BookEklenhui language800Iyo'wujwa Chorote language1,900Mapuche language 260,000Red BookMbyá Guaraní language 15,050Red BookMocoví language 3,000Red BookNivaclé language 14,000Red BookPilagá language 4,000Red BookSantiagueño Quechua language 60,000Red BookToba Qom language 31,580Red BookWeenhayek language 1,900Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz language 31,500Wiznay language 26,500

Bolivia

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSourceAraona language 110Red BookAyoreo language 4,700 Red BookBaure language 20 Bororo language 1,400 Red BookCavineña language 600Red BookChácobo-Pakawara language 1,150Red BookChimané language 5,300Red BookChipaya language 1,800Red BookChiquitano language 2,400 Red BookEastern Bolivian Guaraní language 51,000Red BookEse Ejja language 700 Red BookGuarayu language 8,400 Red BookIgnaciano languageunknownRed BookItonama language 1 Iyo'wujwa Chorote language 1,900 Kallawaya language Ritual language of the Kallawaya people none Red BookLeco language 20 (2001 Simon van de Kerke)Machinere language 1,080 Red BookMovima language 1,400Red BookNivaclé language 14,000 Red BookPakawara language 50Pauna language 10 Red BookReyesano language 12-15Sirionó language 300 Red BookTacana language 1,200 Red BookToba Qom language 31,580 Red BookToromona language 200 Red BookTrinitario language unknown Red BookYaminawa language 2,729 Red BookYuqui language 120Red BookYuracaré language 2,700Red Book

Brazil

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSourceAnambe language 7 (1991 SIL)77 (1993 SIL)Apiaca language 2 (1986 Rodrigues)Arikapu language 6 (1998 SIL)Arua language 12 (1990)Arutani language 17 in Brazil (1986 SIL)Population total all countries: 19Cafundo Creole language 40 (1978 M Gnerre, U Estadual de Campinas).Guato language 40 (1993 SIL)382 (1993 SIL).Himarima language 40.Jabuti language 5 (1990).Juma language 4 (1998)There were 300 in 1940.Karafawyana dialect 40 (1995 SIL).Karipuna language 12 to 15 (2000 SIL).Katawixi language 10 (1986 SIL).Katukina language 1 (1976 SIL) 360.Kreye language 30 (1995 SIL).Mapidian language 50 in Brazil (1986 Howard).Monde language 30 (1995 AMTB).Ofaye language 15 (2002)37 (1995 AMTB).Oro Win language 5 (1996 SIL)55 (1998).Piraha language 150 speakers in 2004.Ethnic population: 200. Purubora language 2 (2002 SIL).Sikiana language 33 in Brazil (1986 SIL)Population total all countries: 48.Tariano language 100 in Brazil (1996 A Aikhenvald)1,500 in Brazil (1985 Rodrigues).Torá language 40 (1990)120 (1990 YWAM).Xipaya language 2 (2000 SIL).

Chile

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSourceAymara language 1.7 million Red BookHuilliche language few Red BookKawésqar languageAlso known as Alacalufe 20 (1996 Oscar Aguilera)Population includes 10 in Puerto Eden.Red BookMapuche language 260,000 Red Book

Colombia

Ecuador

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSourceShiwiar language 7,970Red BookAwa Pit language 13,000Red BookCha'palaa language 5,870Red BookCofán language 1,000Red BookEperara language 3,600Red BookWaorani language 2,000Red BookSecoya language 1,200Red BookShuar language 35,000Red BookSiona language 500Red BookTsafiki language 2,300Red BookZaparo language 1 (2000 SIL)

French Guiana LanguageCommentsSpeakersSourceArawak language 2,500Red BookCarib language 8,600Red BookEmerillon language 400Red BookPalikúr language 1,500Red BookWayana language 1,700Red BookWayampi language 1,200Red Book

Guyana

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSourceAkawaio language Red BookArekuna language Red BookKarina language Red BookLokono language Red BookMakushi language Red BookMawayana language 50 (1986 Howard)Patamona language Red BookWapishana language Red BookWarao language Red Book

Paraguay LanguageCommentsSpeakersSourceAche language Red BookAngaite language Red BookAva-Guarani language Red BookAyoreo language Red BookEnlhet language Red BookGuana language Red BookGuarani-Nandeva language Red BookGuarayo language Red BookIshir language Red BookMaka language Red BookManjui language Red BookMbya language Red BookNivacle language Red BookPai-Tavytera language Red BookSanapana language Red BookToba-Maskoy language Red BookToba-Qom language Red Book

Peru LanguageCommentsSpeakersSourceAchuar-Shiwiar language Red BookAguaruna language Red BookAmahuaca language Red BookAndoa-Shimigae language Red BookArabela language Red BookBora language Red BookCampa Ashaninca language Red BookCampa Asheninca language Red BookCampa Caquinte language Red BookCampa Nomatsiguenga language Red BookCandoshi-Shapra language Red BookCapanahua language Red BookCashibo-Cacataibo language Red BookCashinahua language Red BookChamicuro language 2 (2000 Adelaar)10 to 20 (2000 Adelaar).Chayahuita language Red BookCocama-Cocamilla language Red BookCulina language Madija 1300Boyer, Cindy and Jim Boyer (2001). Culina (Madija) Bani Tahimari = Cuentos de Animales. Mexico AFD: Instituto Linguistico de Verano. Red BookEse Eja language Red BookHarakmbut language Red BookHuambisa language Red BookHuitoto language Red BookInapari language 4 (1999 SIL)Iquito language 35 (2002 SIL)1 monolingual 500.Isconahua language 82 (2000 WCD)Jaqaru language Red BookJebero language 2,000 to 3,000 (2000 W Adelaar).Machiguenga language Red BookMashco Piro language 20 to 100 (1976 SIL)All are completely monolingual.Matses-Mayoruna language Red BookOcaina language Red BookOmagua language 10 to 100 in Peru (1976 SIL)Population total all countries: 10 to 100627 (1976).Orejon language Red BookPiro language 20 to 100 in 1976Red BookResigaro language 14 (1976 SIL).Secoya language Red BookSharanahua language Red BookShipibo-Conibo language Red BookTaushiro language 1 (2002 SIL).Ticuna language Red BookUrarina language Red BookWariapano language Red BookYagua language Red BookYaminahua language Red BookYanesha language Red BookYora language Red Book

Suriname

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSourceAkurio language 10 (2000 E.B. Carlin)Carib language Red BookLokono language Red BookMawayana language Red BookSikiana language 15 in Suriname (2001 Carlin).Trio language Red BookTunayana language Red BookWayana language Red Book

Venezuela

LanguageCommentsSpeakersSourceAkawaio language Red BookAnun language Red BookArutani language 2 in Venezuela (2002 SIL).Baniva language Red BookBari language Red BookCuiba language Red BookGuahibo language Red BookGuajiro language Red BookHoti language Red BookKarina language Red BookKurripako language Red BookLokono language Red BookMáku language extinct Red BookMakushi language Red BookMandahuaca language Red BookMapoyo language 3 (2000 Muller).Nengatu language Red BookPanare language Red BookPatamona language Red BookPemono language 1 (2000 M-C Mattei Muller)Pepojivi language Red BookPiapoko language Red BookPiaroa language Red BookPuinave language Red BookSape language 5 (2007)Saliva language Red BookSanema language Red BookTunebo language Red BookUruak language Red BookWarao language Red BookWarekena language Red BookYabarana language 20 (1977 Migliazza).Yanam language Red BookYanomam language Red BookYanomami language Red BookYaruro language Red BookYekuana language Red BookYukpa language Red Book

References