Where are the Nambiquara languages spoken?

These languages are spoken in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Total number of speakers (estimate)

About 1,000 according to UNESCO

About 1,500 according to Ethnologue.com (SIL)

Classification

To this day, the Nambiquara language family includes two or three active languages:

Northern Nambiquara: 323 according to UNESCO / 351 according to SIL

Southern Nambiquara, dialectal group (12 dialects): 721 according to UNESCO / 1,150 according to SIL

Sabanê: 3 according to UNESCO

Comments on the classification of Nambiquara languages

We hereby follow the classification provided by Ivan Lowe (1999).

This family is sometimes considered as one and the same isolated language including several dialects.

Are the Nambiquara languages endangered?

Yes, the Nambiquara languages are endangered.

Sabanes probably reached extinction in the beginning of the 21st century.

The two Nambiquara dialectal groups are considered “vulnerable”, according to UNESCO criteria.

According to SIL, the Southern Nambiquara speaking population appears to be increasing. This information needs confirmation.

Sources

Lowe, Ivan (1999). “Nambiquara”. In R.M.W. Dixon and Alexandra Y.Aikhenvald, (eds) The Amazonian languages, Cambridge University Press.