Warázu language
Warázu, also known as Pauserna or Guarasugwé, is a moribund Tupi–Guaraní language of Brazil. It was also formerly spoken in Bolivia. It is spoken by the Guarasugwé people, who were estimated to number 125 according to a census in 2012. It was previously considered to be extinct, but 4 speakers were found in 2006; this number had decreased to 2 in 2017.
Classification
Warázu is most closely related to Sirionó and Yuki. Ramirez places the classification of Warázu in the Guaraní subgroup of the Tupi-Guarani languages as follows:Names
Speakers are also known as Guaraiutá, Guaraju, Pauserna, Guarasugwe, or Warazúkwe .Demographics
Ramirez found only 2 remaining speakers of Warázu, an elderly couple consisting of Känä́tsɨ and Híwa. They were born in Riozinho in Rondônia, Brazil, and moved back and forth between Brazil and Bolivia until finally settling in Pimenteiras do Oeste, Rondônia.Traditionally, the Warázu people had lived in the following 7 villages along the banks of the Guaporé River. However, the Warázu language is no longer spoken in these localities.
- Riozinho, Brazil
- Acurizal, Brazil
- Campo Grande, Bolivia
- Bella Vista, Bolivia
- Jangada, Bolivia
- Barranco Vermelho, Bolivia
- Flechas, Bolivia
Phonology
Phonological inventory of Warázu:Consonants
Warázu only has 11 consonants.Allophones:
Vowels
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Syllabic structure is V or VV.