Waorani language


The Waorani language, commonly known as Sabela is a vulnerable language isolate spoken by the Huaorani people, an indigenous group living in the Amazon rainforest between the Napo and Curaray Rivers in Ecuador. A small number of speakers with so-called uncontacted groups may live in Peru.
Huaorani is considered endangered due to growing bilingualism in Quechua and Spanish and diminishing Huaorani usage among youth.

Dialects

Huaorani has three dialects: Tiguacuna, Tuei, and Shiripuno.

Language relations

Sabela is not known to be related to any other language. However, it forms part of Terrence Kaufman's Yawan proposal.
Jolkesky also notes that there are lexical similarities with Yaruro.

Phonology

Huaorani distinguishes nasal vowels from oral ones. Syllable structure is V, with frequent vowel clusters.

Vocabulary

lists the following basic vocabulary items for Sabela and Tiwituey.