Also Known As:
Maku, Macu, Maco, Itoto, Wotuja, Jojod, Piaroa-Maco, Kuakua, Guagua, Quaqua, Ature, Adole, Piaroa-Mako, Piaroa, Wothüha
Dialects & Varieties
The Mako language: Vitality, Grammar and Classification
The Mako language: Vitality, Grammar and Classification
Vulnerable
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
~1,078
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 0
Almost all members of the community or ethnic group speak the language, and the number of speakers is stable or increasing.
0
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 1
Used in most domains except for official ones such as government, mass media, education etc.
1
Transmission
Transmission -1
All members of the community, including children, speak the language.
-1
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
~1,500
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Location and Context
Countries
Venezuela
Location Description
Mako communities are located in Amazonas state, in the Atabapo municipality (in the areas of Caño Yaquivapo, Caño Guapuchí, Río Ventuari, and Caño Yureba) and the Manapiare municipality (in the areas of Río Ventuari and Caño Parú).
Government Support
Official support for indigenous languages
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
No results found.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Spanish, Piaroa
Number of Other Language Speakers:
Some (men more likely to speak Spanish than women)
Domains of Other Languages:
Spanish (school, interaction with outsiders); Piaroa with Piaroa speakers
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
Roman-based
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
"There is a practical orthography; some materials have been written but remain largely inaccessible to most communities; Mako literacy education is not part of the school curriculum."
Recent Resources
Mensaje informativo
No results found.
The legal framework and instruments to promote the use of Mako in the indigenous communities where the language is spoken and in the education system exist; however, many of these policies remain unimplemented...
The Mako people whom I know and with whom I have interacted over the last three years are most definitely not ashamed of using their language—for example, they use it overtly amongst themselves while in the cities—and, in fact, seem to see it as essential to their community and their identity. It is impossible to guarantee that all the members of all the Mako communities value their language and wish to see it promoted but I think it safe to affirm that most members of the communities with whom I have worked or those I have just visited support language maintenance."