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LANGUAGE
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The Xerente and Xavante speak dialects of the same language, which belongs to the Jê family. The Xerente have maintained their dialect alive. Children up to five years of age only speak the indigenous language. The adults use it in all contexts of daily life in the villages. When they converse with non-Indians, they speak Portuguese fluently.


01:: Playing a nose flute
photo: Curt Nimuendaju, 1937

Luís Roberto de Paula
Doctoral student in Anthropology - Universidade de São Paulo
Researcher of MARI - Indigenous Education Group
lrpaula@usp.br
August, 1999
 
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