Amarakaeri language

Amarakaeri
Native to	Perú
Ethnicity	Amarakaeri people
Native speakers	1,600 (2007 census)
Language family	Harákmbut–Katukinan ? Harákmbut Amarakaeri
Language codes
ISO 639-3	amr
Glottolog	amar1274

Amarakaeri is an Amazonian language of the Harákmbut language family spoken in Peru along the Madre de Dios and Colorado Rivers. There is less than 1% literacy compared to 5 to 15% literacy in second language Spanish. There is one dialect called Kisambaeri. It is an official language and has a dictionary. Amarakaeri speakers include the Kochimberi, Küpondirideri, Wíntaperi, Wakitaneri, and Kareneri gold panning tribes. There is a common misconception is that Amarakaeri is an Arawakan language. Alternate names include Amarakaire, Amaracaire, and Mashco; the latter of which is considered a pejorative term.

Phonology

Amarakaeri has 18 vowels.

Vowels

	Front	Central	Back
Close	i	ɨ
Close-mid	e		o
Open	a

All vowels have long forms. Except for /ɨ/, all vowels, both short and long forms, have nasalized forms.

Consonants

		Bilabial	Alveolar	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Stop	plain	p	t		k	ʔ
	prenasalized	mb	nd		ŋg
Fricative			s		x
Nasal		m	n		ŋ
Approximant				j	w
Flap			ɾ

See also

• Amarakaeri Communal Reserve