Nheengatu
Encyclopedia
The Nheengatu language ([ɲɛʔẽŋaˈtu] in original Tupi pronunciation), often spelled Nhengatu, is an Amerindian language of a Tupi–Guarani family. It is also known by the Portuguese
names língua geral da Amazônia and língua geral amazônica, both meaning "Amazonian General Language," or even by the Latin
lingua brasilica (Brazilian Language). Nheengatu originated in northern Brazil in the 17th century as a lingua franca
. Now known as nheengatu (also nhengatu, nyengatú, língua geral, geral, yeral), it is still spoken along the Rio Negro in northern Brazil (as well as in neighboring Colombia
and Venezuela
).
ian Amazon
, and in neighboring portions of Colombia
and Venezuela
. It is the native language of the area's rural population, and it is also used as a common language of communication between Indians and non-Indians, and between Indians from different tribes. Its use is also a way for some of the native peoples who have lost their original languages to affirm their ethnic identity, as in the case of the Barés, the Arapaços, and others. In 2003, it gained the status of official language alongside Portuguese
in São Gabriel da Cachoeira
.
and Pará
. It was standardized by Jesuits from the vocabulary and pronunciation of the tupinambá dialect, which were adapted into a grammatical framework based on Portuguese. At its height in the 18th century, it was the dominant spoken language throughout Brazil's vast territory, alongside its closely related southern counterpart, the língua geral paulista, as it was used not only by Indians and missionaries but also as an everyday language by settlers of European ancestry. Nheengatu was carried into the interior and spread across the Amazon region in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Its use later declined, partially as a result of the imposition of the Portuguese language by the Marquis of Pombal (1758) and of the expulsion of the Jesuits from Brazil (1759), as well as because of immigration from Portugal
.
The very survival of Nheengatu, even in a much diminished state, is surprising, since it suffered centuries of repression, and also because the people of the Upper Rio Negro originally spoke languages not related to it.
Aside from the aforementioned língua geral paulista, now extinct, Nheengatu is also closely related to Paraguayan Guarani
, which far from being extinct is the most widely spoken language in that country and one of its official languages. According to some sources, Nheengatu and Guarani are mutually intelligible.
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
names língua geral da Amazônia and língua geral amazônica, both meaning "Amazonian General Language," or even by the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
lingua brasilica (Brazilian Language). Nheengatu originated in northern Brazil in the 17th century as a lingua franca
Lingua franca
A lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both mother tongues.-Characteristics:"Lingua franca" is a functionally defined term, independent of the linguistic...
. Now known as nheengatu (also nhengatu, nyengatú, língua geral, geral, yeral), it is still spoken along the Rio Negro in northern Brazil (as well as in neighboring Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
).
Current status
There are perhaps around 8,000 Nheengatu speakers according to The Ethnologue (2005) (Rohter (2005) gives a much larger number); the language has recently regained some recognition and prominence after having been suppressed for many years. It is spoken in the Upper Rio Negro region of Amazonas state, in the BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian Amazon
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
, and in neighboring portions of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. It is the native language of the area's rural population, and it is also used as a common language of communication between Indians and non-Indians, and between Indians from different tribes. Its use is also a way for some of the native peoples who have lost their original languages to affirm their ethnic identity, as in the case of the Barés, the Arapaços, and others. In 2003, it gained the status of official language alongside Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
in São Gabriel da Cachoeira
São Gabriel da Cachoeira
São Gabriel da Cachoeira is a city and a Municipality located on the Northern shores of the Rio Negro River, in the region of Cabeça do Cachorro, Amazonas state, Brazil. Between 1952 and 1966, it was officially called Uaupés, after the nearby Vaupés River. Most of its inhabitants are indigenous...
.
History
Nheengatu was based on tupinambá, the language of the Tupi along the northern Brazilian coast in MaranhãoMaranhão
Maranhão is a northeastern state of Brazil. To the north lies the Atlantic Ocean. Maranhão is neighbored by the states of Piauí, Tocantins and Pará. The people of Maranhão have a distinctive accent...
and Pará
Pará
Pará is a state in the north of Brazil. It borders the Brazilian states of Amapá, Maranhão, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Amazonas and Roraima. To the northwest it also borders Guyana and Suriname, and to the northeast it borders the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Belém.Pará is the most populous state...
. It was standardized by Jesuits from the vocabulary and pronunciation of the tupinambá dialect, which were adapted into a grammatical framework based on Portuguese. At its height in the 18th century, it was the dominant spoken language throughout Brazil's vast territory, alongside its closely related southern counterpart, the língua geral paulista, as it was used not only by Indians and missionaries but also as an everyday language by settlers of European ancestry. Nheengatu was carried into the interior and spread across the Amazon region in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Its use later declined, partially as a result of the imposition of the Portuguese language by the Marquis of Pombal (1758) and of the expulsion of the Jesuits from Brazil (1759), as well as because of immigration from Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
The very survival of Nheengatu, even in a much diminished state, is surprising, since it suffered centuries of repression, and also because the people of the Upper Rio Negro originally spoke languages not related to it.
Aside from the aforementioned língua geral paulista, now extinct, Nheengatu is also closely related to Paraguayan Guarani
Guaraní language
Guaraní, specifically the primary variety known as Paraguayan Guaraní , is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí–Guaraní subfamily of the Tupian languages. It is one of the official languages of Paraguay , where it is spoken by the majority of the population, and half of...
, which far from being extinct is the most widely spoken language in that country and one of its official languages. According to some sources, Nheengatu and Guarani are mutually intelligible.
See also
- Guaraní languageGuaraní languageGuaraní, specifically the primary variety known as Paraguayan Guaraní , is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí–Guaraní subfamily of the Tupian languages. It is one of the official languages of Paraguay , where it is spoken by the majority of the population, and half of...
- Língua GeralLíngua GeralLíngua Geral is the name of two distinct linguae francae spoken in Brazil, the língua geral paulista , now extinct; and the língua geral amazônica , whose modern descendant is Nheengatu....
- Lingua Geral Paulista
- Old Tupi languageOld Tupi languageOld Tupi or Classical Tupi is an extinct Tupian language which was spoken by the native Tupi people of Brazil, mostly those who lived close to the sea. It belongs to the Tupi–Guarani language family, and which has a written history spanning the 16th, 17th and early 18th centuries...
- Tupi–Guarani languages
- Region of Cabeça do CachorroCabeça do CachorroThe region known as Cabeça do Cachorro is the area comprising the northwesternmost end of the state of Amazonas, Brazil, bordering on Colombia and Venezuela....
- Tupi people
External links
- Nheengatu: léxico, textos, midia e outros links
- INPA - Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Humanas e Sociais
- "Uma breve história da língua tupi, a língua do tempo que o Brasil era canibal"
- "Nheengatu e dialeto caipira"
- Etnolinguistica.Org: lista de discussão sobre línguas indígenas sul-americanas
- New York Times article