Kaʼapor language


Kaapor, also known as "Urubú," "Caapor" or Urubú-Kaapor, is a Tupi–Guarani language spoken as a primary language by the Kaʼapor people of Brazil. The language is also spoken as a second language by non-Ka'apor ethnic groups, including Tembé.
There is a high incidence of congenital deafness among the Kaʼapor people, most of whom grow up bilingual in Urubu-Kaapor Sign Language, which may be indigenous to them.

Phonology

Consonants

  • Sounds /s, ʃ, m, n/ may also be heard as in word-initial positions.
  • /j/ may also be heard as or freely, in word-initial positions.
  • /ɾ/ may also be heard as a trill in word-final positions.

    Vowels

  • Sounds /e, o/ may also be heard as more open in stressed syllables.