Wapishana
The Language Spoken:
WAPISHANA (WAPITXANA, WAPISIANA, VAPIDIANA, WAPIXANA) [WAP] 9,000 in Guyana (1993 SIL), 14% of the Amerindians (1990 J. Forte); 1,500 in Brazil (1986 SIL); 10,500 total. Southwest Guyana, south of the Kanuku Mts., northwest of the Waiwai; a few villages. Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Wapishanan. Dialects: ATORAI (ATOR'TI, DAURI), MAPIDIAN (MAOPITYAN, MAWAYANA), AMARIBA. Speakers' second language is English, which is taught in school. Amariba may be extinct. 40 Mapidian are intermarried with Waiwai speakers and speak fluent Waiwai. Savannah. Swidden agriculturalists: cassava. Traditional religion, Christian. Bible portions 1975. Work in progress
Alternate Names: None.
Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Wapishanan.
Population: 10,500 total.
Region: Guyana, south-west, south Rupununi savannahs,
to the north-west of the Waiwai; a few villages.
