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| The Waimiri Atroari
language, which they call kinja iara, “people's
language,” belongs to the Carib linguistic family.
All the Waimiri Atroari speak this language, it being
the means of communication among themselves and the one
used in reading and writing. Portuguese is considered
a contact language, its use being restricted to the school
in foreign language classes and to interethnic relations.
The number of bilingual speakers is relatively low, involving
about 20% of the population, the majority being males
(youths and adults) who serve as intermediaries in relations
between Waimiri Atroari society and other indigenous and
non-indigenous societies. |
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Maria Carmen R. Do Vale
Coordinator of the Project on Education, Documentation,
and Memory, of the Waimiri Atroari Program
carmen@waimiriatroari.org.br
February, 2002
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