Xipaya
RegionBrazil
Speakers1
Date2024
Ref[1][2]
Familycolortupian
Fam 1Tupian
Fam 2Yurúna
Iso 3xiy
Glottoxipa1240
GlottorefnameXipaya

Xipaya (or Shipaja or Xipaia) is an endangered language spoken in the Pará region of Brazil. It is one of the approximately 70 Tupian languages of South America. At last count, Xipaya was only spoken by one elderly woman, Maria Xipaya, in Altamira, Pará. It is closely related to the Yuruna language.[3]

Phonology

Consonants of Xipaya[4]
BilabialAlveolarPost-alveolarPalatalVelarLabial–velarGlottal
Plosiveb pd tk
Nasalmn
Sibilant fricativez sʃ
Non-sibilant fricativeh
Approximantjw
Lateral approximantl
Vowels of Xipaya[4]
FrontCentralBack
Closei ĩɨ ɨ̃u ũ
Close-mide
Opena ã

References

  1. ^ PMA, Ascom (2024-04-19). "Conheça Maria Xipaya, símbolo da resistência indígena no Xingu" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Prefeitura Municipal de Altamira | Gestão 2025-2028. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  2. ^ "Documentário sobre os povos Xipaya e Kuruaya estreia na Casa de Memória Transxingu" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Agência Pará de Notícias. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  3. ^ Steward, J. H. (ed.). Handbook of South American Indians. Vol. 3.
  4. ^ "PHOIBLE 2.0 - Inventory Xipaya (SAPHON 2114)". phoible.org. Retrieved 6 November 2022.