Baré language


Baré is a nearly extinct Arawakan language of Venezuela and Brazil. It is spoken by two of the Baré people, as of 2012. Aikhenvald reports "just a few old speakers left" of Baré. Kaufman considers Baré proper, Guinau, and Marawá to be distinct languages; Aikhenvald, dialects of a single language. According to a Baré speaker, the Mandawaca language was mutually intelligible with Baré. Two principal subdivisions are recognized, Ihini 'the ones from there' and Arihini 'the ones from here'.
Baré is a generic name for a number of Arawakan languages in the area, including Mandahuaca, Guarequena, Baniwa, and Piapoco. Barawana is the language given this name in Kaufman, Aikhenvald, and Ethnologue. It is also known as Ibini and Mitua.

Phonology

Vowels

Vowels can come in three forms; oral, nasal, and voiceless:
  • Vowel sounds, /e ẽ e̥/, and /u ũ u̥/ are heard as , , and when in unstressed position.
  • /a/ is heard as a back sound when after /w/.

    Consonants

  • Sounds /t, n/ are realized as dentalized and palatal before and after /i/.
  • /d/ is realized as an affricate before front vowels.
  • /ɾ/ can tend to fluctuate to a velarized in free variation.
  • Voiceless sonorants are treated as aspirated in Aikhenvald, which does not recgonize.
  • Aikhenvald also reports, only found in loanwords.