Arawakan

Arawakan is a language family of indigenous languages in the Americas. It is one of the largest language families on the continents by number of languages, comprising dozens of distinct languages and dialects. The family is distributed across the Caribbean and northern South America, with traditional concentrations in the Guyana–Suriname region and parts of Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, and French Guiana.

Historically, Arawakan languages were spoken by numerous ethnic groups collectively called Arawaks, including the Taíno of the Caribbean. Following European contact and colonial processes, many Arawakan languages were displaced, and several have become extinct. Today a smaller set of Arawakan languages remain in active use, such as Lokono (Arawak) in Guyana and Suriname, with related languages spoken in neighboring countries.

Linguistic classification is complex: Arawakan forms a large, diverse family with contested subgrouping. Scholars typically recognize Northern and Southern branches and additional lineages, but consensus varies. Proto-Arawakan is believed to have originated in northern South America with diversification occurring in the pre-Columbian era, spreading into the Caribbean and interior regions before European colonization.

Current status varies by language and community. Many Arawakan languages are endangered or have small speaker populations, though there are ongoing efforts in documentation, revitalization, and bilingual education. The term Arawak has also been used historically to refer to multiple peoples associated with these languages, most famously the Taíno of the Caribbean.