Bora

Bora

Bora is a member of the Witotoan language family spoken by about
2,300 people in parts of Peru and Colombia. In Peru it is spoken
in the Northeast Yaguasyacu, Putumayo, and Ampiyacu river areas,
while in Colombia Bora speakers live in the Putumayo area. It is
also spoken in Brazil, where it was known as Miraña.

One interesting feature of Bora is that is some 350 noun classes,
more than any other language.

Bora pronunciation

Bora pronunciation

Notes

  • Bora has two tones: the high tone, which can be marked with an acute
    accent (á, é, etc), and a low tone, which isn’t marked.
  • There are different ways of writing some of the sounds of Bora:
    c = k or qu, ds = dz, h = ‘, j = h, k = c or qu, ll = j or dj, ts = tz,
    and w = kp or pk.

Sample text in Bora

Pueyano pa quishacari, puetunu pajaniyajanaa mariyata miishiya maninia,
maja sooshiya tamonu. Puetunu pueyajanaari niishitiajaraca, jiuujiaaracanio
pueyacua pa taraajenura. Naarate maninia pa jiyanootioore juhua pa tapueyocuaca.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They
are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another
in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Links

Information about Bora
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bora_language
http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=boa
http://www.native-languages.org/bora.htm

  • Post category:Languages
  • Reading time:2 mins read