Shebayo language


Shebayo is an extinct Arawakan language of Trinidad and perhaps the Venezuelan coast, or in the Guianas according to Loukotka, who incorrectly classified it as Cariban. It is only attested by a few words in a 1633 book by Joannes de Laet. Aikhenvald classifies it with the Ta-Arawakan languages.

Vocabulary

The following is a compilation of all Shebayo vocabularies collected by Laet, de Goeje and Taylor.
de Laet de Goeje Taylor gloss
hejahejaheia, hejafather
hammahammahammamother
wackewijrrijwa-ckewijrrijwackewijrrijhead
vvackenoelywa-ckenoeywackenoely, wackenoeyear
noeyeriinoeyerrinoeyerrieye
vvassibalywa-ssibalywassibaly, wassinose
darrymailydarrymailydarrymailymouth
vvadacoelywa-dacoelywadacoelyteeth
vvatabayewa-tabayewatabayelegs
vvackehyrrywa-ckehyrrywackehyrryfeet
atalyatalyatalytree
hoerapalliihoerapallihoerapalliibow
hewerryhewerryhewerryarrow
kyrtryrrekyrtzyrrekyrtzyrremoon
vvecoelijewecoelijewecoelijesun
annotoannoto-urucu