Language quiz

Here’s a recording in a mystery language.

Can you identify the language, and do you know where it’s spoken?

May 20th, 2012 in Language, Quiz questions

Comments (8)

DaydreamerMay 20th, 2012 at 9:59 pm

Chances are that I’m totally wrong this week, but my first (and, so far, only) impression is that this language has one foot in Japan and the other in Siberia.
That would mean that it’s Ainu.

Vijay JohnMay 21st, 2012 at 3:27 am

It sounds a little bit like Guarani, but definitely not Paraguayan Guarani.

Dan, ad nauseamMay 21st, 2012 at 4:32 am

I hear tones reminiscent of Southeast Asia, but the stress pattern doesn’t sound like an isolating language. I also hear glottal stops.

I can[t place it.

SimonMay 21st, 2012 at 10:39 am

It is spoken in parts of South America, so Vijay John is in the right area, but it isn’t Guaraní.

AndrewMay 22nd, 2012 at 12:00 am

I thought I heard some Spanish in there :)

jimutavahanaMay 22nd, 2012 at 10:20 am

Shuar? just a shot in the dark

SimonMay 22nd, 2012 at 10:49 am

It seems that no one is going to get this. The answer is Amahuaca, a Panoan language spoken in Peru and Brazil by about 250 people.

The recording comes from the GRN

Dan, ad nauseamMay 23rd, 2012 at 1:03 am

I _thought_ I was way off