Languages of Venezuela

[vijayjohn]

In addition to Spanish, 35 indigenous languages are spoken in Venezuela. They include at least three language isolates and three unclassified languages as well as languages from at least seven other families. Maipurean languages are spoken along the border with Colombia, particularly in the south, though the Maipurean language Wayuu is instead spoken in northwestern Venezuela as well as across the border, and Lokono (a.k.a. Arawak) straddles the border with Guyana and is spoken in the Guianas as well. The Chibchan language Barí is spoken nearby.

In between these languages and the other Maipurean languages, some Guajiboan languages, all also spoken in Colombia, are spoken along the border. The Piaroan, Wiro, and Saliba languages are also spoken here; Piaroa and Wiro are closely related. Out of all these languages, only the Maipurean languages Mandawaka and Warekena are not also spoken in Colombia. However, Warekena is also spoken in Brazil.

Just north of where the Guajiboan languages are spoken, there are speakers of an unclassified language called Yaruro. Further east, there is a language isolate called Hodï. Even further east, there may be another called Sapé. In the northeastern corner of Venezuela, yet another language isolate called Warao is spoken. It is also spoken in Guyana and Suriname.

The Tupi language Nheengatu, which at least used to be a lingua franca in this part of the Amazon, is spoken just south of the Maipurean languages. The Yanomaman languages of Venezuela are spoken just to the east of these languages. The Cariban languages are spoken to the north of these languages, almost as far as the coast, as well as in the northwest, near the areas where Wayuu and Bari are spoken.