Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Xavante language

The Xavante language is spoken in about 60 villages in the area surrounding Eastern Mato Grosso, Brazil. The Xavante people are reknowned as agressive and prideful, but are most famous for their dualistic societal structure. Two clans, the âwawẽ and po'reza'õno comprise the culture, and marriage is not allowed to members of the same group. The Xavante are also known for their complex initiation ritiuals for young males in which wooden earring is inserted in the earlobe. As time passes the size of these adornments are increased. The Xavante language is unique because of its 13 voewls and matching 13 consonants, its Object-Subject-Verb grammatical organization, and its interesting use of honorary and endearment terms in its morphology.

External link