| Timbira | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Brazil |
| Region | Maranhão,Pará,Tocantins |
| Ethnicity | Timbira |
Native speakers | 5,000 (2005–2008)[1] |
| Dialects | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Variously:ram – Canelaxra – Krahôgvp – Pará Gaviãoxri – Krĩkatíxre – Krẽje |
| Glottolog | timb1253 |
Timbira is adialect continuum of theNorthern Jê language group of theJê languages ̣(Macro-Jê) spoken inBrazil. The various dialects are distinct enough to sometimes be considered separate languages. The principal varieties,Krahô/ˈkrɑːhoʊ/[2] (Craó), andCanela/kæˈnɛlə/[2] (Kanela), have 2000 speakers apiece, few of whom speak Portuguese.Pará Gavião has 600–700 speakers.Krẽje, however, is nearly extinct, with only 30 speakers in 1995.
Timibira has been intensive contact with variousTupi-Guarani languages of the lowerTocantins-Mearim area, such asGuajajára,Tembé,Guajá, andUrubú-Ka'apór.Ararandewára,Turiwára,Tupinamba, andNheengatu have also been spoken in the area. Some of people in the area are also remembers ofAnambé andAmanajé.[3]
Linguistic varieties of Timbira include:[4]
Loukotka (1968) divides the Timbira tribes into two groups, Timbirá (Canela) andKrao.[5] The majority are included under Timbira:
Under the Timbira group, Loukotka included several purported languages for which nothing is recorded:Kukoekamekran, Karákatajé, Kenpokatajé, Kanakatayé, Norokwajé (Ñurukwayé). ThePoncatagê (Põkateye) are likewise unidentifiable.
Ramirez et al. (2015) considers Timbira-Kayapó to be adialect continuum, as follows:[6]
Apart from Kapiekran, all Krao varieties are recognized by the ISO.
Another common convention for division, though geographic rather than linguistic, isWestern Timbira (Apinayé alone) vsEastern Timbira (Canela, Krikatí, Krahô, Gavião, and others).
Gurupy is a river, sometimes used to refer to theKrenye.
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