Southern Kayapó language


Kayapó do Sul is a Jê language formerly spoken by the Southern Kayapó people of Brazil in a vast region that comprised Triângulo Mineiro, Goiás, southeastern Mato Grosso, northeastern Mato Grosso do Sul, and northeastern São Paulo, in particular on the rivers Rio Turvo, Corumbá, Meia Ponte, Tijuco, Rio das Velhas, Rio Pardo, Sucuriju, Aparé, Rio Verde, and Taquari. It can be considered to have developed into the Panará language.

Dialects

Two dialects have been identified based on the scarce documentation of the language. The variety spoken in São José de Mossâmedes is characterized by the retention of the Proto-Goyaz Jê rhotic *r. In contrast, the variety spoken in Santana do Paranaíba and in the Triângulo Mineiro region innovated by palatalizing the rhotic in certain environments and is thought to be the ancestor of Panará.

Phonology

/ʃ/ exists only in the Mossâmedes dialect. /ɲ, ŋ, h/ exist only in the Santana dialect.