Bahuana (Bahwana, Barawana), or Ciriana (Shiriana, Xiriâna, Chiriana), is an Arawakan language most closely related to Manao and Kariaí, once spoken by the Shiriana people and Bahuana people of Roraima, Brazil. It had an active–stative syntax. The last speaker, Claudina de Souza Soares, died around 2000.

Phonology

Consonants

is commonly labio-palatalized as before front vowels and appears to be in free variation with the uncommonly attested .

Vowels

Morphology

Bahuana, unlike most Arawakan languages, lacks grammatical gender. This is thought to be due to possible influence from Nheengatu.

Vocabulary

References