Eperara (Epéna Pedée)

Eperara is a variety of Southern Emberá and a part of the Chocoan language family. It is spoken mainly in Colombia, in the departments of Cauca, Nariño, and Valle del Cauca. There are also Eperera speakers in Esmeraldas province of Ecuador, and in Panamá province of Panama. There were about 3,500 speakers in Colombia in 2004, and about 50 speakers in Ecuador in 2012. The number of speakers in Panama is not unknown.

Eperara is also known as Cholo, Embena, Embera, Emberá-Saija, Epená Saija, Saija, Eperara-Siapidara or Southern Empera. Speakers call themselves Sia Pedee or Wamuna o Epena, which means "voice of brave reeds".

Few Eperara speakers can read and write their language, however it is now being taught in primary schools.

Eperara alphabets and pronunciation

Eperara alphabet and pronunciation

Notes

Glottal stops [ʔ] can be indicated with hyphens
Long vowels are written double
The vowel [ɨ] is written ï in some texts, and ɨ in others
Aspirated consonants are written with a ’ or a ', e.g. k'/k’
c, f, h, l, ñ, q, v, x and z are only used in loanwords and foreign names

Download an alphabet chart for Eperara (Excel)

Sample text (The Lord's Prayer - Luke 11: 2-4)

Jesusba jarasii: —Machiba Dachi Akõremaa ʉtaa id̶iiduud̶e naka berreásturu: “Dai Akõre bajãad̶e b̶uu, bichi trʉ̃ aude bibuara nii waabenarã trʉ̃ audeara. Daiba kʉ̃ria panuu kãꞌãabariwãed̶e bichiba bichid̶irã bichi juad̶e ua b̶uai. [Kʉ̃ria panuu bichiba kʉ̃ria b̶uu nau iujãad̶ebenarãba waud̶ai, bajãad̶ebenarãba waubadau kĩra.]
Daimaa chiko dease ewaricha kod̶ai baita.
Daiba kachirua wauped̶aad̶a perdonakuase, daimaa kachirua wauduu daiba perdonabadau kĩra. Dai kachiruad̶e b̶aebiarã́se, maumaarã kachiruad̶ebena aid̶ase”.

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/3160/LUK.11.CTO

Translation

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.11.KJV

Details provided by Michael Peter Füstumum

Sample text (UDHR)

Ũma tachi eperarã t’opata apenaarã ome auk’a tachi creencia ome ɨchiava auk’a – kincia k’awaa- k’o p’anora ome a penaarã maa.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Sample videos in Eperara

Links

Information about Eperara
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eperara_language
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epena_saija
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/sja
https://cuartoalosmejores2013.blogspot.com/2013/05/cultura-epera.html

Chocoan languages

Catio, Chami, Northern Emberá, Eperara

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 22.04.24

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