Chamicuro language

Chamicuro is a critically endangered indigenous American language spoken by only 2 aboriginal people in South America. The language is of the Chamicuro people who number between 10 and 20. The Chamicuros live on a tributary of the Huallaga river, in Peru, in an area called Pampa Hermosa, meaning beautiful plains.

As with all native languages in Peru, Chamicuro is by default an official language in the area in which it is spoken. A Chamicuro dictionary has been created, however no children can speak the language as they have shifted to Spanish.

There is controversy in regard to whether Aguano is the same language, which one study (Ruhlen 1987) says it is, but the Chamicuros dispute this (Wise, 1987), although this may be for cultural reasons and the languages may actually be intelligible but the different people do not relate to one another and maintain different names and connotations between their language or languages.

See also

• Language death

References

For a list of words relating to Chamicuro language, see the Chamicuro language category of words in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Languages of Peru
Spanish varieties	Amazonic Andean Coastal Equatorial (Tumbes)
Indigenous languages	Arawakan Campa Asháninka Ashéninga Axininca Caquinte Machiguenga Nanti Nomatsiguenga Piro Iñapari Mashco Piro Yine Upper Amazon Resígaro Western Chamicuro Yanesha' Aymaran Aymara Jaqaru Bora–Witoto Bora Minica Huitoto Murui Huitoto Nüpode Huitoto Ocaina Cahuapanan Chayahuita Jebero Harákmbut Amarakaeri Huachipaeri Jivaroan Aguaruna Huambisa Shiwiar Pano–Tacanan Amawaka Ese Ejja Iskonawa Kashibo Kashinawa Matsés Pisabo Shipibo Yaminawa Quechuan Cajamarca–Cañaris Cajamarca Lambayeque Central Ancash Huánuco (Huallaga) Pacaraos Wanka Yaru Yauyos–Chincha Lowland Chachapoyas Lamas Kichwa Southern Ayacucho Cusco Puno Tucanoan Orejón Secoya Tupian Cocama Omagua Zaparoan Arabela Iquito Other Candoshi-Shapra Kulina Taushiro Ticuna Urarina Yagua
Sign languages	Peruvian Sign Language