The PiaroaâÂÂSaliban, also known as Saliban (in spanish : Sálivan), are a small proposed language family of the middle Orinoco Basin, which forms an independent island within an area of Venezuela and Colombia (northern llanos) dominated by peoples of Carib and Arawakan affiliation.
Betoi may be related.
Piaroa and Wirö (or "Maco") form a Piaroan branch of the family.
The extinct Ature language, once spoken on the Orinoco River near the waterfalls of Atures, Venezuela, is unattested but was said to be 'little different' from Saliba, and so may have formed a Saliban branch of the family.
Jolkesky (2016) notes that there are lexical similarities with the AndokeâÂÂUrekena, Arawak, Jukude, Tukano, and Yaruro language families due to contact.
Lozano (2014:212) has also noted similarities between the Saliba-Hodi and Arawakan languages.
Zamponi (2017) notes resemblances between the extinct Betoi language and PiaroaâÂÂSaliban. He considers a genealogical relationship plausible, though data on Betoi is scarce.
There are lexical similarities with the Hotï language (Jodï), and this has been interpreted as evidence for a JodïâÂÂSaliban language family. However, the similarities have also been explained as contact.
Jolkesky (2009) includes Piaroa-Saliba, Betoi and Hodi in a Duho family along with TicunaâÂÂYuri.
Loukotka (1968) lists the following basic vocabulary items for the PiaroaâÂÂSaliban languages.
Rosés Labrada (2019) lists the following Swadesh-list items that are reconstructable to Proto-Sáliban.