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Ninam language

Ninam language is a topic that has captured the attention of millions of people around the world. Since its emergence, it has been the subject of debate, discussion and exploration, as experts, scholars and the general public attempt to understand its impact on contemporary society. This article dives into Ninam language, examining its origins, evolution, and current relevance. Through a detailed and insightful analysis, we seek to shed light on this phenomenon, providing a complete and updated vision of its meaning and influence in various areas. By approaching Ninam language from different angles, the aim is to offer a panoramic view that allows the reader to delve into this topic with a broad and deep understanding.

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Yanam
Ninam
Native toBrazil, Venezuela
Native speakers
470 in Brazil (2012)[1]
560 in Venezuela (2010) (excluding Yaroamë)[1]
Yanomam
  • Yanam
Language codes
ISO 639-3shb
Glottolognina1238
ELPNinam
Yanomaman languages location
  Ninam

Yanam, or Ninam, is a Yanomaman language spoken in Roraima, Brazil (800 speakers) and southern Venezuela near the Mucajai, upper Uraricaá, and Paragua rivers.

Synonymy

Yanam is also known by the following names: Ninam, Yanam–Ninam, Xirianá, Shiriana Casapare, Kasrapai, Jawaperi, Crichana, Jawari, Shiriana, Eastern Yanomaman.

Regional variation

Gordon (2009) reports 2 main varieties (Northern, Southern). Kaufman (1994) reports 3:

  1. Yanam (a.k.a. Northern Yanam/Ninam (Xiliana, Shiriana, Uraricaa-Paragua))
  2. Ninam (a.k.a. Southern Yanam/Ninam (Xilixana, Shirishana, Mukajai))
  3. Jawarib

The name Jawari is shared with Ỹaroamë.

There are three dialects spoken in Roraima, Brazil according to Ferreira, et al. (2019):[2]

The remaining speakers of Arutani and Sapé also speak Ninam (Shirián), since they now mostly live in Ninam villages.[3][4]

Mason (1950)

Dialects listed by Mason (1950):[5]

  • Waharibo (Guaharibo)
    • Shirianá
      • Waicá (Guaica, Vaica)
  • Carimé (Karimé)

Phonology

Yanam has seven base vowels. Yanam has both vowel length and nasalization, and both features can occur simultaneously, for all vowels except for /ɨ/.[6][7]

Vowels
Front Central Back
Close i ɨ u
Mid e ə o
Open a
Consonants
Bilabial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
plain aspirated
Stop p t k
Affricate t͡ʃ
Fricative s ʃ h
Nasal m n
Approximant j
Flap ɾ

References

  1. ^ a b Yanam at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022) Closed access icon
  2. ^ Ferreira, Helder Perri; Machado, Ana Maria Antunes; Senra, Estevão Benfica. 2019. As línguas Yanomami no Brasil: diversidade e vitalidade. São Paulo: Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) and Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (IPHAN). 216pp. ISBN 978-85-8226-076-0
  3. ^ Rosés Labrada, Jorge Emilio, Thiago Chacon & Francia Medina. 2020. Arutani (Venezuela and Brazil) – Language Snapshot. In Peter K. Austin (ed.) Language Documentation and Description 17, 170-177. London: EL Publishing.
  4. ^ Jorge Emilio Rosés Labrada & Francia Medina (2019). Sapé (Venezuela) — Language Snapshot. In Peter K. Austin (ed.) Language Documentation and Description, vol 16. London: EL Publishing. pp. 169-175.
  5. ^ Mason, John Alden (1950). "The languages of South America". In Steward, Julian (ed.). Handbook of South American Indians. Vol. 6. Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office: Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 143. pp. 157–317.
  6. ^ "SAPhon – South American Phonological Inventories". linguistics.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  7. ^ Migliazza, Ernest; Grimes, Joseph E. (1961). "Shiriana Phonology". Anthropological Linguistics. 3 (6): 31–41. ISSN 0003-5483.
  • Campbell, Lyle. (1997). American Indian languages: The historical linguistics of Native America. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509427-1.
  • Kaufman, Terrence. (1994). The native languages of South America. In C. Mosley & R. E. Asher (Eds.), Atlas of the world's languages (pp. 46–76). London: Routledge.
  • Migliazza, Ernest; & Grimes, J. E. (1961). Shiriana phonology. Anthropological Linguistics. (June).