# Timbira language

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Northern Je language spoken in Brazil

Timbira Native to Brazil Region Maranhão, Pará, Tocantins Ethnicity Timbira Native speakers 5,000 (2005–2008)[1] Language family Macro-Jê Jê Cerrado Jê of Goyaz Northern Jê Timbira Dialects Canela–Krahô Pará Gavião Krẽje Language codes ISO 639-3 Variously: ram – Canela xra – Krahô gvp – Pará Gavião xri – Krĩkatí xre – Krẽje Glottolog timb1253

**Timbira** is a [dialect continuum](/source/Dialect_continuum) of the [Northern Jê](/source/Northern_J%C3%AA) language group of the [Jê languages](/source/J%C3%AA_languages) ̣([Macro-Jê](/source/Macro-J%C3%AA_languages)) spoken in [Brazil](/source/Brazil). The various dialects are distinct enough to sometimes be considered separate languages. The principal varieties, **[Krahô](/source/Krah%C3%B4_language)** [/ˈkrɑːhoʊ/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English)[2] (Craó), and **[Canela](/source/Canela_language)** [/kæˈnɛlə/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English)[2] (Kanela), have 2000 speakers apiece, few of whom speak Portuguese. [Pará Gavião](/source/Par%C3%A1_Gavi%C3%A3o_language) has 600–700 speakers. [Krẽje](/source/Kr%E1%BA%BDje_language), however, is nearly extinct, with only 30 speakers in 1995.

Timibira has been intensive contact with various [Tupi-Guarani languages](/source/Tupi-Guarani_languages) of the lower [Tocantins](/source/Tocantins_River)-[Mearim](/source/Mearim_River) area, such as [Guajajára](/source/Guajajara_language), [Tembé](/source/Temb%C3%A9_language), [Guajá](/source/Guaj%C3%A1_language), and [Urubú-Ka'apór](/source/Ka'apor_language). [Ararandewára](/source/Ararandewara_language), [Turiwára](/source/Turiw%C3%A1ra_language), [Tupinamba](/source/Tupi_language), and [Nheengatu](/source/Nheengatu_language) have also been spoken in the area. Some of people in the area are also remembers of [Anambé](/source/Anamb%C3%A9_language) and [Amanajé](/source/Amanay%C3%A9_language).[3]

## Varieties

Linguistic varieties of Timbira include:[4]

- [Canela](/source/Canela_language) (subdivided into Apànjêkra and Mẽmõrtũmre (a.k.a. Ràmkôkãmẽkra)), 2,500 speakers in [Maranhão](/source/Maranh%C3%A3o)

- [Krahô](/source/Krah%C3%B4_language), 2,000 speakers in [Tocantins](/source/Tocantins)

- [Krĩkatí](/source/Kr%C4%A9kat%C3%AD_language), spoken in Terra Indígena Krikati, [Maranhão](/source/Maranh%C3%A3o)

- [Pykobjê](/source/Pykobj%C3%AA_language), 600 speakers in Terra Indígena Governador close to [Amarante](/source/Amarante_do_Maranh%C3%A3o), [Maranhão](/source/Maranh%C3%A3o)

- [Parkatêjê](/source/Parkat%C3%AAj%C3%AA_language), 12 speakers in Terra Indígena Mãe Maria, [Bom Jesus do Tocantins](/source/Bom_Jesus_do_Tocantins), [Pará](/source/Par%C3%A1)

- [Kỳikatêjê](/source/K%E1%BB%B3ikat%C3%AAj%C3%AA_language), 9 speakers in Terra Indígena Mãe Maria, [Bom Jesus do Tocantins](/source/Bom_Jesus_do_Tocantins), [Pará](/source/Par%C3%A1)

- [Krẽje](/source/Kr%E1%BA%BDje_language), under 30 speakers in [Maranhão](/source/Maranh%C3%A3o) and [Pará](/source/Par%C3%A1)

### Loukotka (1968)

Loukotka (1968) divides the Timbira tribes into two groups, Timbirá ([Canela](/source/Canela_language)) and [Krao](/source/Krah%C3%B4_language).[5] The majority are included under Timbira:

**Timbira ([Canela](/source/Canela_language))**

- *Mehin, Tajé* (Timbirá)

- *Kreapimkatajé* (Krepúnkateye)

- *Krenjé* ([Krẽyé](/source/Kr%E1%BA%BDje_language))

- *Remkokamekran* (Remako-Kamékrere, Merrime)

- *Aponegicran* (Apáñekra)

- *Krenkatajé* (Canella, Kenkateye)

- *Sakamekran* (Chacamecran, Mateiros)

- *Purekamekran, Makamekran* (Pepuxi)

- *Apinagé, Karaho* (Carauau)

- *Menren* (Gaviões, Augutjé – only a few words known)

- *Meitajé*

**Krao**

- *[Krahó](/source/Krah%C3%B4), Krikati* ([Kỳikatêjê](/source/Krikataj%C3%A9_language))

- *[Piokobjé](/source/Pykobj%C3%AA_language)* (Bucobu, Pukobje, Paicogê)

- *Kapiekran*

Under the Timbira group, Loukotka included several purported languages for which nothing is recorded: *Kukoekamekran, Karákatajé, Kenpokatajé, Kanakatayé, Norokwajé* (Ñurukwayé). The *Poncatagê* (Põkateye) are likewise unidentifiable.

### Ramirez et al. (2015)

Ramirez et al. (2015) considers Timbira-Kayapó to be a [dialect continuum](/source/Dialect_continuum), as follows:[6]

- Canela-Krahô ↔ Gavião-Krĩkati ↔ Apinajé ↔ Kayapó ↔ Suyá-Tapayuna ↔ Panará-Kayapó do Sul

Apart from Kapiekran, all Krao varieties are recognized by the ISO.

Another common convention for division, though geographic rather than linguistic, is *Western Timbira* (Apinayé alone) vs *Eastern Timbira* (Canela, Krikatí, Krahô, Gavião, and others).

*Gurupy* is a river, sometimes used to refer to the [Krenye](/source/Kr%E1%BA%BDje_language).

### Nikulin (2020)

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (August 2020)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-e18_1-0)** [Canela](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/ram/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) [Krahô](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/xra/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) [Pará Gavião](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/gvp/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) [Krĩkatí](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/xri/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) [Krẽje](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/xre/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bauer_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bauer_2-1) Laurie Bauer, 2007, *The Linguistics Student’s Handbook*, Edinburgh

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Cabral, Ana Suelly Arruda Câmara; Beatriz Carreta Corrêa da Silva; Maria Risolta Silva Julião; Marina Maria Silva Magalhães. 2007. Linguistic diffusion in the Tocantins-Mearim area. In: Ana Suelly Arruda Câmara Cabral; Aryon Dall’Igna Rodrigues (ed.), *Línguas e culturas Tupi*, p. 357–374. Campinas: Curt Nimuendaju; Brasília: LALI.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Nikulin-Macro-Je_4-0)** Nikulin, Andrey (2020). [*Proto-Macro-Jê: um estudo reconstrutivo*](http://etnolinguistica.wdfiles.com/local--files/tese%3Anikulin-2020/Nikulin_2020_Proto-Macro-Je.pdf) (PDF) (Ph.D. dissertation). Brasília: Universidade de Brasília.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Loukotka_5-0)** [Loukotka, Čestmír](/source/%C4%8Cestm%C3%ADr_Loukotka) (1968). [*Classification of South American Indian languages*](https://archive.org/details/classificationof0007louk). Los Angeles: UCLA Latin American Center.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Ramirez, H., Vegini, V., & França, M. C. V. de. (2015). [Koropó, puri, kamakã e outras línguas do Leste Brasileiro](https://periodicos.sbu.unicamp.br/ojs/index.php/liames/article/download/8642302/19659/). *LIAMES: Línguas Indígenas Americanas*, 15(2), 223 – 277. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.20396/liames.v15i2.8642302](https://doi.org/10.20396%2Fliames.v15i2.8642302)

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v t e Macro-Jê languages Jê Cerrado Goyaz Panará Panará–Southern Kayapó Northern Trans-Tocantins Apinajé Trans-Araguaia Mẽbêngôkre Tapajós Khĩsêtjê (Suyá) Tapayuna Timbira Canela–Krahô Pykobjê–Krĩkatí Pará Gavião Parkatêjê Kỳikatêjê Krẽjê Central (Akuwẽ) Acroá Xakriabá Xavánte Akwẽ-Xerénte (Xerénte) Jê of Paraná Ingain Southern Kaingáng São Paulo Kaingáng Laklãnõ (Xokléng) Guayaná Unclassified Jaikó Trans–São Francisco Krenák Guerén Krenak Nakrehé Maxakalían Malalí Maxakalí Ritual Maxakalí Pataxó Pataxó-Hãhãhãe Makoní Kapoxó Koropó Kamakã ? Kamakã Kotoxó Masakará Menién Western Mato Grosso Ofayé Rikbáktsa Jabutian Arikapú Djeoromitxi Karajá Karajá Javaé [pt] Xambioá Chiquitano ? Bésɨro Migueleño Penoqui Sansimoniano Italics indicate extinct languages

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Timbira language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbira_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timbira_language?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.