Palikur, a Language between Two Worlds

Over the course of a long history stretching back to the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, via the arbitration in 1900 of the Franco-Brazilian border dispute, the Palikur (or Parikwene) have been divided between France and Brazil. This community, considered autochtonous in that it existed in the same place at the time of the Europeans’ arrival, now inhabits both Guyane and Brazil, living principally on the two banks of the Oyapock river. The transnational situation of the Palikur is reflected in all aspects of life in the community today, whether in terms of identity, of education, of citizenship or of language. The objective of this chapter is to present the dynamics of the Palikur’s linguistic situation in Guyane in all their complexity. It focuses on change over time across generations and on the questions of linguistic and cultural preservation currently being raised. The chapter is based on sociolinguistic research and lexicographical studies conducted in situ over the course of fifteen years.