Language Snapshots

Sapé (Venezuela) -- Language Snapshot

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Abstract

Sapé is a language isolate traditionally spoken along the Karún and Upper Paragua rivers and their tributaries in the Bolivar State of Venezuela. While the Sapé have been a small group since their first mention in the historical record, the population has dwindled in the last few decades and as of 2011, only nine individuals self-identified as Sapé. The causes for this decrease are tied to intermarriages with larger groups in the area as well as to (introduced) diseases and, possibly, prior interethnic conflicts. Documentation of the language is scant but recent work has uncovered unpublished materials that might enrich the record. Fieldwork carried out in 2017 established that, in addition to two unconfirmed semi-speakers, there remained only one speaker of Sapé; it also expanded on previously-collected materials and gathered additional data. There may be other (semi-)speakers along the Karún River but this is still unconfirmed. 

Keywords: language isolate, Bolivar State, Karún River, Upper Paragua River

How to Cite:

Rosés Labrada, J. & Medina, F., (2019) “Sapé (Venezuela) -- Language Snapshot”, Language Documentation and Description 16, 169-175. doi: https://doi.org/10.25894/ldd125