Amuesha

 [aka Amuexa, Yanesha', Amoesha]

Classification: Arawakan

·

threatened

resource

An Ethnolinguistic Study of the Yanesha’ (Amuesha) Language and Speech Community in Peru’s Andean Amazon, and the Traditional Role of Ponapnora, a Female Rite of Passage

The Yanesha’ (Amuesha) language is spoken on the edges of two worlds, the Andes and the Amazon, in southcentral Peru. Ethnolinguistic fieldwork was carried out among the Yanesha’ people in May-August 2008 to learn about their language and the possible factors leading to its endangerment. This thesis examines the unique linguistic features of Yanesha and its place within the Arawak language family. It also discusses a puberty ritual that plays an important role in preserving musical and linguistic heritage among Yanesha’ women: the ponapnora female initiation ritual. Keywords: Yanesha’ language, Peruvian Andean Amazon, Arawak language family,

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Anna Luisa Daigneault

Peru / Canada

Jan. 1, 2009

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