Bribri (se'ie)

Bribri is a Chibchan language spoken in southern Costa Rica, specifically in the canton of Talamanca in Limón province, and in the canton of Buenos Aires in Puntarenas province. In 2011 there were about 7,000 speakers of Bribri.

Bribri is also known as Bri-bri, Bribriwak, Bribri-wak or Talamanca. The name Bribri comes from the word balíbali (uneven terrain), which refers to the area where Bribri speakers live. The people who speak Bribri call themselves bríbriwak, and sometimes call their language se'ie (our language).

There are three dialects of Bribri: Coroma (Eastern), Amubre (Western) and Salitre (Pacific). Bribri is related to Cabécar, which is also spoken in Costa Rica.

Bribri is used mainly in families, in churches, and in traditional ceremonies. It has been taught in schools since 1985, and there are also Bribri courses at the University of Costa Rica in San José. Bribri has no official status.

A standard spelling system for Bribri was devised by the Linguistics Department of the University of Costa Rica in the late 20th century.

Bribri alphabet and pronunciation

Notes

Before nasal vowels b = [m], d = [n] and y = [ɲ]
d = [ɾ] in the middle of syllables before vowels, and at the end of syllables after vowels
d = [r] when by vowels with a rising tone
Nasal vowels are also indicated with a macron underneath (a̱) or an ogonek (ę)
Tones are indicated as follows: the high tone is indicated with a grave accent (à), the falling tone is indicated with an acute accent (á), the rising tone is indicated with a circumflex (â), and the low tone is not marked.

Hear the sounds of Bribri
https://www.lenguabribri.com/sonidos-y-escritura

Download an alphabet chart for Bribri (Excel)

Sample text in Bribri

Iã kṍksãla wakabawãee
iã kṍibölö wakabawãee
baëbë saëbëala
iwekö ĩãle aböleala
këkëalawaee ke
këkëalaa

Source: https://www.lenguabribri.com/cantos-rituales-en-i-ttè

Sample videos in Bribri

Information about Bribri | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about the Bribri language
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribri_language
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioma_bribri
https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribri_(språk)
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/bzd
https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribris_ortografi
https://www.lenguabribri.com/
http://www.native-languages.org/bribri.htm

Chibchan languages

Arhuaco, Bribri, Buglere, Cabécar, Guaymí, Kuna, Maléku, Paya, Rama, Teribe

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 15.09.22

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