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Gaviao Indian Language (Gavião do Pará)
Language: Gaviao is a Je language of South America,
spoken by around 600 people in Brazil. It has SOV word order.
Names: "Gaviao" is the Portuguese name for the tribe--it is a Portuguese word meaning "hawk."
Like other Portuguese names, it was used indsicriminately by early settlers to refer to multiple unrelated tribes in different locations,
which can be a source of confusion today. In this case, the Gavião do Pará language (so called because it is spoken in the
state of Para) is a Je language, also known as Gavião do Mãe Maria or Gavião do Maranhão. It should not be confused with
Gavião do Jiparana, which is a language from the
Tupi-Guarani family spoken in Rondonia more than a thousand miles away. It is not clear why the Portuguese called the
Gavião Indians "hawks"--some people think it may have been a comment on their ferocity.
The Gaviao people usually identify themselves by individual band names. Although they speak the same language
and share many cultural similarities, they h
ave always been politically independent from each other.
Gaviao do Para bands include the Pykopjê (also spelled Pykobjê, Pukobjê or Pykopcatejê,)
the Parkatêjê (also spelled Parakatêjê or Perkatêjê,) the Kyikatêjê,
and the Akrãtikatêjê. Collectively, all these small groups are sometimes known as "Timbira" or "Mehim."
Gaviao do Para Language
Gaviao language samples and resources.
Gaviao do Para Culture and History
Information and links about the Gaviao do Para tribe past and present.
Gaviao Language Lessons and Linguistic Descriptions
Indigenous Languages of Brazil:
Language map showing where Native Brazilian languages are still spoken today, including Gaviao do Para.
Gavião do Pará Phonology:
Linguistic chart of phonemes in the Gaviao language.
Pará Gavião Language:
Wikipedia article on Gaviao and its dialects.
Timbira-Gaviao Language Tree:
Theories about Gaviao's language relationships compiled by Linguist List.
Idioma Timbira:
Information about the Gaviao language in Spanish.
OLAC: Para Gaviao:
Reference list of Gaviao language materials.
Endangered Languages Project: Gaviao:
Bibliography of Gaviao language resources.
Gaviao do Para Words of Life:
Translations of Bible stories into the Gaviao language.
Gaviao Dictionaries and Language Books for Sale
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links
Nome e verbo em Pykobje-Gaviao:
Linguistic analysis of the Pykobje Gaviao language in Portuguese.
The Amazonian Languages:
In-depth book about Gaviao and dozens of other languages of Amazonia.
Links, References, and Additional Information
Povo Gaviao 
Tribo Gavião Os Gaviões:
Information about the Gavioes and their language in Portuguese.
Wikipedia: The Gaviaos (Jê):
Encylopedia entries about the Gaviao tribe.
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Gaviao do Para Language Resources