Huaorani 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.
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