Definition & Meaning of "Arawakan languages"

What are "Arawakan languages"?

Arawakan languages are a large family of Indigenous languages spoken across parts of South America and the Caribbean. This family includes languages such as Garifuna, Wayuu, and Lokono. Arawakan languages are known for their agglutinative grammar, where words are formed by combining various prefixes and suffixes, as well as a relatively simple sound system. Historically, Arawakan languages were spoken across a vast region, and some, like the now-extinct Taíno, played a significant role in pre-Columbian Caribbean societies. The study of Arawakan languages provides insights into the historical migrations, cultural practices, and social structures of Indigenous peoples in the Americas, as well as the impact of colonization on these languages.