Murui Huitoto
Encyclopedia
Murui Huitoto - or simply Murui (also known as Bue and Witoto) is an indigenous American Huitoto language of the Witotoan family
spoken by 2,900 of indigenous people in western South America
alongside the Ampiyacu, Putumayo
, and Napo
rivers.
Though approximately 95% of Murui-speakers under the age of 40 are literate, and between 20 and 25% read and write in Spanish
, fewer than 1% read and write in Murui.
Approximately 1,000 Peruvians use Murui in both its written and oral forms. The language is accorded official status and is used in schools. It is also used in churches. There are no Murui-an monolinguals in Peru
: speakers of the language who do not also use another language.
The language has 1,900 speakers in southwestern Colombia
where it has higher social utility and standing.
It was formerly spoken in Brazil
as well, but is now extinct in that country.
When written it uses the Roman Script. A dictionary and grammar rules have been developed.
Note that before i and e, c is written qu.
Witotoan languages
Bora–Witóto is a proposal to unite the Bora and Witotoan language families of northeastern Peru , southwestern Colombia , and western Brazil...
spoken by 2,900 of indigenous people in western South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
alongside the Ampiyacu, Putumayo
Putumayo River
The Içá or Putumayo River is one of the tributaries of the Amazon River, west of and parallel to the Yapura. It forms part of Colombia's border with Ecuador, as well as most of the frontier with Peru...
, and Napo
Napo River
The Napo is a tributary to the Amazon River that rises in Ecuador on the flanks of the volcanoes of Antisana, Sincholagua and Cotopaxi.The total length of 1075 km. Catchment area of 100,518 square kilometers...
rivers.
Though approximately 95% of Murui-speakers under the age of 40 are literate, and between 20 and 25% read and write in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, fewer than 1% read and write in Murui.
Approximately 1,000 Peruvians use Murui in both its written and oral forms. The language is accorded official status and is used in schools. It is also used in churches. There are no Murui-an monolinguals in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
: speakers of the language who do not also use another language.
The language has 1,900 speakers in southwestern Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
where it has higher social utility and standing.
It was formerly spoken in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
as well, but is now extinct in that country.
When written it uses the Roman Script. A dictionary and grammar rules have been developed.
Constonants
The orthographic representation is to the left, the IPA to the right.Note that before i and e, c is written qu.
| Bilabial | Dental | Aveolar | Postaveolar | Palatal | Velar | Glottal | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plosive | Unvoiced | t /t/ | c /k/ | |||||
| Voiced | b /b/ | d /d/ | g /ɡ/ | |||||
| Fricative or Affricate | Unvoiced | f /ɸ/ | s /θ/ | ch /tʃ/ | j /h/ | |||
| Voiced | v /β/ | ll /ʝ/ | ||||||
| Nasal | m /m/ | n /n/ | ñ /ɲ/ | |||||
| Trill | r /r/ | |||||||
Vowels
| Orthography | IPA |
|---|---|
| a | /a/ |
| e | /e/ |
| i | /i/ |
| o | /ɒ/ |
| u | /u/ |
| ɨ | /ɯ/ |