Shifting language attitudes in north-west Amazonia

Aikhenvald, Alexandra Y. (2013) Shifting language attitudes in north-west Amazonia. International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 2013 (222). pp. 195-216.

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Abstract

Tariana is an endangered language spoken by about 100 people in a remote area of northwest Amazonia, Brazil. The language is spoken in a fascinating area where one can only marry someone who speaks a different language and who belongs to a different ethnic group. Tariana is being rapidly displaced by an unrelated language, Tucano. The article focuses on the drastic changes which have occurred among the Tariana over the past decade. At present, Tariana speaking communities as such no longer exist. The linguistic exogamy is occasionally violated. Language remains the badge of identity, but for most people only in theory. The puristic language attitudes have relented. Occasional code-switching with Tucano and Portuguese (the national language) is no longer considered a mark of incompetence. Many Tariana lament that their language is being lost, and are relying on the school to "learn it back", and the language is no longer spoken in the families.

Item ID: 28190
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1613-3668
Keywords: language endangerment; exogamy; language obsolescence; language teaching; language and culture maintenance; Vaupés
Funders: Australian Research Council (ARC)
Projects and Grants: The world through the prism of language, The grammar of knowledge
Date Deposited: 25 Jul 2013 00:02
FoR Codes: 20 LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE > 2004 Linguistics > 200408 Linguistic Structures (incl Grammar, Phonology, Lexicon, Semantics) @ 100%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970120 Expanding Knowledge in Language, Communication and Culture @ 100%
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