Waorani language
| Sabela | |
|---|---|
| Huaorani / Waorani | |
| Wao Terero | |
| Native to | Ecuador, Peru |
| Region | Oriente or Ecuadorian Amazon |
| Ethnicity | 1,800 Huaorani people (2012) |
|
Native speakers
|
1,700 (2004) |
| Official status | |
|
Official language in
|
Ecuador: indigenous languages official in own territories |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | |
| Glottolog | waor1240 |
The Waorani (Huaorani) language, commonly known as Sabela (also Wao, Huao, Auishiri, Aushiri, Ssabela ; autonym: Wao Terero; pejorative: Auka, Auca) is a 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 distinguishes nasal vowels from oral ones. Syllable structure is (C)V, with frequent vowel clusters.
Huaorani has three dialects: Tiguacuna (Tiwakuna), Tuei (Tiwi Tuei, Tiwi), and Shiripuno.
Sabela is not known to be related to any other language. However, it forms part of Terrence Kaufman's Yawan proposal.
Huaorani is considered endangered due to growing bilingualism in Quechua and Spanish and diminishing Huaorani usage among youth.
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