Basic Data

• Name: Waiãpi
• Alternative Names: Wayampi, Wayãpi, Oyampi, Oiampi, Oyampik, Guayapi
• Auto-Denomination: Waiãpi
• Language Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup 8, Wayampi
• Population: 1000+
• Location: Several villages on tributaries of the Amapari River in eastern Amapá, Brazil; on the Oiapoque and Camopi Rivers in French Guiana; and a few speakers on the East Paru River, northeastern Pará, Brazil

About the Waiãpi

Waiãpi is the name of a dialect cluster classified in subgroup 8 of the Tupi-Guarani language family. There are multiple dialects located on both sides of the Brazil-French Guiana border, as shown in the map on page 2. At the time of Gary Olson's first surveys there were Waiãpi in the areas of : Oiapoque/Camopi rivers (French Guiana), Cuc River (Amapá), and Amapari (Amapá).

A village is usually composed of a wider family, the chief being the patriarch. The chief is the one primarily responsible for maintaining stability within the village and passing down traditional cultural values, though individual parents sometimes assume this responsibility as well. The chief (or parent) does this through stories and legends. The chief's influence is felt primarily through consultations, though often times he is the one who determines community activities (such as fishing or hunting expeditions). If his wisdom and charisma are exceptional, his influence may be felt outside the immediate community as well. Traditional values usually include: (1) control of emotions, especially anger. (2) care of immediate family, and of extended family when you have the wherewithal. This would include supporting them when there is trouble. (3) no stealing or cheating (especially within the immediate family context).

Publications

Jensen, Allen A., 1979, Comparação Preliminar das Línguas Emerillon e Oiampi no seu Desenvolvimento do Proto Tupi-Guarani (in Portuguese, 526 kB), Summer Institute of Linguistics.

———, 1988, Indigenous systems of bird classification: Comparative, Ecological, and Evolutionary Aspects (Abstract, 41 kB), Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Belém.

———, 1993, Wayampi. Typological Studies in Negation (Abstract, 231 kB), Typological Studies in Negation, ed. by Peter Kahrel and Rene van den Berg, pp. 343-364, Amsterdam.

Jensen, Cheryl 1989, The Historical Development of the Wayampi Language (Abstract, 34 kB), Editora da UNICAMP.

Olson, Gary, 1978, Descrição Preliminar de Orações Wajapĩ (in Portuguese, 434 kB), Sociedade Internacional de Lingüística, Cuiabá, MT.

Olson, Roberta, 1978, Dicionário por tópicos nas línguas oiampi (wajapĩ) - português (in Portuguese, 391 kB) Sociedade Internacional de Lingüística, Cuiabá, MT.