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
Quechua may refer to:
*Quechua people, several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru
*Quechuan languages, a Native South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a common ancestral language
**So ...
terms.
Phonology
Vocabulary
Selected Shawi animal names from Rojas-Berscia (2019):
[Rojas-Berscia, Luis Miguel. 2019. ]
From Kawapanan to Shawi: Topics in language variation and change
'. Doctoral dissertation, Radboud University Nijmegen.
:
References
{{South American languages
Languages of Peru
Cahuapanan languages