Chayahuita language

Chayahuita is an endangered Amazonian language spoken by thousands of native Chayahuita people in the Amazon basin of north-central Peru. Spoken along the banks of the Paranapura, Cahuapanas, Sillay, and Shanusi rivers, it is also known as Chayawita, Shawi, Chawi, Tshaahui, Chayhuita, Chayabita, Shayabit, Balsapuertino, Paranapura, and Cahuapa. There is a 1–5% literacy rate, compared with 5–15% for Spanish, and a dictionary since 1978. It can not be understood by Jebero speakers although there is some overlap in vocabulary, especially some Quechua terms.

Phonology[]

Vocabulary[]

Selected Shawi animal names from Rojas-Berscia (2019):^[3]

Selected animal names

Common name	Scientific name	Shawi
possum	Didelphis marsupialis	anashi
lowland paca	Cuniculus paca	ipi'
red squirrel	Sciurus spadiceus	pu'shi
bicolor porcupine	Coendou bicolor	sese
common rat	Rattus norvegicus	shumi
agouti	Dasyprocta punctata	ite'
capybara	Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris	tucusu'
pichico monkey	Saguinus fuscicollis	ishi'
Amazon condor	Sarcoramphus papa	tame
silver mylossoma	Metynnis argenteus	shite'
black prochilodus	Prochilodus nigricans	wanki
armored catfish	Pseudorinelepis genibarbis	warate'
wolf fish	Hoplias malabaricus	a'nanan
peccary	Pecari tajacu	kiraman
jaguar	Panthera onca	ni'ni'
tapir	Tapirus terrestris	pawara
giant otter	Pteronura brasiliensis	ini'
kinkajou	Potos flavus	kuwasha'
red howler	Alouatta seniculus	nu'nu'
yellow-tailed woolly monkey	Oreonax flavicauda	sura'
squirrel monkey	Saimiri sciureus	isen
bald uakari	Cacajao calvus	tekerenan
owl monkey	Aotus miconax	kuwi
spider monkey	Ateles belzebuth	tu'ya
pink dolphin	Inia geoffrensis	sapana'
shusupe	Lachesis muta	na'shi
common lancehead	Bothrops atrox	tayuwan
boa	Boa constrictor	kupiwan
wattled curassow	Crax globulosa	i'sa
bayuca caterpillar	Lonomia obliqua	tiwintata'

References[]