This language used to be widely spoken by people living near the Japura River (Image: Getty)
In a remote area near Brazil’s , a linguistic treasure is on the brink of extinction.
Kawishana, once widely spoken by an Indigenous community, now holds the solemn distinction of being one of the in the world, with only one fluent speaker remaining.
, also known as Kaixana, was historically used by communities living along the Japura River.
Its speakers thrived in a region known for its rich biodiversity and cultural traditions.
However, as generations passed, the language began to fade.
Influences such as migration, urbanisation, and the dominance of Portuguese in Brazil contributed to its decline.
By the late 20th century, the number of Kawishana speakers had dwindled to just 200.
Today, only one person is known to speak the language fluently, making it critically endangered.
Efforts to document and preserve Kawishana have been limited, though the language’s unique structure and cultural significance highlight its importance in linguistic history.
Kawishana was once widely spoken by an Indigenous community (Image: Getty)
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Languages like Kawishana are more than just words and grammar; they are vessels of history, culture, and identity.
Each language encodes unique perspectives on life, the environment, and spirituality. With the loss of Kawishana, an entire worldview risks vanishing alongside it.
Organisations like UNESCO classify languages into stages of endangerment, and Kawishana is on the extreme end of this spectrum.
Linguists and anthropologists are stressing the urgency of documenting such languages before they disappear entirely.