Shifting Language Attitudes In North-West Amazonia

Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald

doi:10.1515/ijsl-2013-0039

Article

Shifting Language Attitudes In North-West Amazonia

Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald

Published/Copyright: July 16, 2013

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From the journal International Journal of the Sociology of Language Volume 2013 Issue 222

Abstract

Tariana is an endangered language spoken by about 100 people in a remote area of northwest Amazonia, Brazil. The language is spoken in a fascinating area where one can only marry someone who speaks a different language and who belongs to a different ethnic group. Tariana is being rapidly displaced by an unrelated language, Tucano. The article focuses on the drastic changes which have occurred among the Tariana over the past decade. At present, Tariana speaking communities as such no longer exist. The linguistic exogamy is occasionally violated. Language remains the badge of identity, but for most people only in theory. The puristic language attitudes have relented. Occasional code-switching with Tucano and Portuguese (the national language) is no longer considered a mark of incompetence. Many Tariana lament that their language is being lost, and are relying on the school to “learn it back”, and the language is no longer spoken in the families.

Keywords: language endangerment; exogamy; language obsolescence; language teaching; language and culture maintenance; Vaupés

Language and Culture Research Centre, James Cook University

Published Online: 2013-07-16

Published in Print: 2013-07-16

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ijsl-2013-0039

Keywords for this article

language endangerment; exogamy; language obsolescence; language teaching; language and culture maintenance; Vaupés