Bora (Meamuyna)

Bora is a member of the Bora-Witoto language family. It is spoken by about 2,300 people in the Amazonian regions 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, and is also known as Booráá.

One interesting feature of Bora is that it has some 350 noun classes, more than any other language. It is written with the Latin alphabet.

Bora alphabet and 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.

Download an alphabet chart for Bora (Excel)

Sample text in Bora

Pámeere ííñújiri meíjcyame tsá múhójísí pañé ícubáhrádú meíjcyáítyuróne. Pámeere tsahdúré imí meíjcyame mewájyújcatsíñe mépíáábójcatsíiyá tsaatéké éhdííválletúmé éhne múu mépañétúéné nahbémuma meíjcyadu.

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)

Sample video in Bora

Links

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

Bora-Witoto languages

Bora, Minica Huitoto, Murui Huitoto

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 10.06.25

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