****Yuracaré (also ****Yurakaré, Yurakar, ****Yuracare, Yurucare, Yuracar, Yurakare, Yurujuré, Yurújare ) is an endangered language isolate of central Bolivia in Cochabamba and Beni departments spoken by the ****Yuracaré people. Speakers refer to their own language as Yurújare [juˈɹ̟uhaɹ̟e].

Distribution

There are 2,000–3,000 Yurakaré speakers in the upper Mamoré River valley of eastern Bolivia. They live along the Chapare and Ichilo Rivers in Cochabamba Department, as well as along the Isiboro and Sécure Rivers in Isiboro-Sécure National Park. Loukotka (1968) reported that Yuracaré was spoken at the sources of the Sécure River, and on the Chapare River and Chimoré River.

Dialects

Two dialects, now extinct, were: Coni, Cuchi, and Enete are possible dialects (Brinton 1891). Historical sources mention ethnic groups in the Orinoco Delta such as Siawani (Chaguanes), Veriotaus (Farautes), and Tiuitiuas (Tibitíbis) that spoke Warao or languages closely related to modern Warao. Other extinct groups include:

Demographics

There are approximately 2,500 speakers. These numbers are in decline as the youngest generation no longer learns the language. (See Language death.)

Documentation

Yuracaré is documented with a grammar based on an old missionary manuscript by de la Cueva (Adam 1893). The language is currently being studied by Rik van Gijn. A Foundation for Endangered Languages grant was awarded for a Yuracaré–Spanish / Spanish–Yuracaré dictionary project in 2005.

Genealogical relations

Suárez (1977) suggests a relationship between Yuracaré and the Mosetenan, Pano–Tacanan, Arawakan, and Chon families. His earlier Macro-Panoan proposal is the same minus Arawakan (Suárez 1969). Jolkesky (2016) also notes that there are lexical similarities with the Moseten-Tsimane languages.

Grammar

Vocabulary

Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items. ! gloss !! Yuracare