Nheengatu language

Spoken in

• Tupi languages Tupi- Guarani languages Tupi Nheengatu

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Sai ( collective language code for "other indigenous languages ​​of South America" ​​)

Y RL

Nheengatu (also Nhengatu ) is an indigenous language, which is spoken in the Brazilian Amazon at the headwaters of the Río Negro, as well as in some neighboring parts of Colombia and Venezuela.

The Nheengatu has its origin in the "General language of Amazonia " ( Língua geral da Amazônia or Língua geral Amazônica ), which in turn goes back to the Tupi dialect of Tupinambás and served in the Portuguese colonial era as a lingua franca for the European settlers. Since the 18th century it was supplanted by the Portuguese, but keeps still in the region of the upper Rio Negro in the Brazilian state of Amazonas and neighboring areas of Colombia and Venezuela.

Nheengatu belongs to the Tupi languages ​​within the group of the Tupi- Guarani languages. It will have 30,000 spokesman today ( according to other sources 8000 ), including children. In addition to indigenous it capable of a few people of European origin, and it serves as a means of communication between linguistically different ethnic groups of the region. In recent times, it serves as a means to show the indigenous identity with pride, including indigenous peoples who have their original language is replaced by the Nheengatu, such as the Barés and Arapaços. Since 2003, Cachoeira has it in the predominantly indigenous municipality of São Gabriel da next to the Portuguese official status.