Ninam language


Yanam, or Ninam, is a Yanomaman language spoken in Roraima, Brazil and southern Venezuela near the Mucajai, upper Uraricaá, and Paragua rivers.

Synonymy

Yanam is also known by the following names: Ninam, Yanam–Ninam, Xirianá, Shiriana Casapare, Kasrapai, Jawaperi, Crichana, Jawari, Shiriana, Eastern Yanomaman.

Regional variation

Gordon reports 2 main varieties. Kaufman reports 3:
  1. Yanam
  2. Ninam
  3. Jawarib
The name Jawari is shared with Ỹaroamë.
There are three dialects spoken in Roraima, Brazil according to Ferreira, et al. :Northern : Ericó and SaúbaSouthern: MucajaíCentral: Uraricoera
The remaining speakers of Arutani and Sapé also speak Ninam, since they now mostly live in Ninam villages.

Mason (1950)

Dialects listed by Mason :
  • Waharibo
  • *Shirianá
  • **Waicá
  • Carimé

Phonology

Yanam has seven base vowels. Yanam has both vowel length and nasalization, and both features can occur simultaneously, for all vowels except for /ɨ/.
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