The Waorani (Huaorani) language, commonly known as Sabela (also Wao, Huao, Auishiri, Aushiri, Ssabela ; autonym: Wao Terero; pejorative: Auka, Auca) is a vulnerable language isolate spoken by the Waorani people, an indigenous group living in the Amazon rainforest between the Napo and Curaray Rivers in Ecuador. A small number of speakers with so-called uncontacted groups may live in Peru.

Demographics

Waorani is primarily spoken in Waorani Ethnic Reserve, which is the largest indigenous reserve in Ecuador. Other areas where it is spoken include Pastaza and Napo provinces (including the towns of Puyo and Coca), Yasuní National Park, and the Taromenani Tagaeri Intangible Zone. Waorani is considered endangered due to growing bilingualism in Quechua and Spanish and diminishing Waorani usage among youth.

Dialects

Waorani has three dialects: Tiguacuna (Tiwakuna), Tuei (Tiwi Tuei, Tiwi), and Shiripuno.

Language relations

Sabela is not known to be related to any other language. However, it forms part of Terrence Kaufman's Yawan proposal. Jolkesky (2016) also notes that there are lexical similarities with Yaruro.

Phonology

Waorani distinguishes nasal vowels from oral ones. Syllable structure is (C)V, with frequent vowel clusters. The allophones of range from and the allophones of have a similar range,, and allophones of can be heard as. The alveolar tap is an allophone of and the palatal glide is an allophone of.

Vocabulary

Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for Sabela and Tiwituey. ! gloss !! Sabela !! Tiwituey ! one ! two ! head ! eye ! woman ! fire ! sun ! star ! maize ! house ! white