Historically, it was believed that the Igneri were conquered and displaced by the Island Caribs or Kalinago in an invasion some time before European contact.
However, linguistic and archaeological studies in the 20th century have led scholars to more nuanced theories as to the fate of the Igneri.
[3] However, linguistic analysis in the 20th century determined that the main Island Carib language was spoken by both sexes, and was Arawakan, not Cariban.
As such, scholars have adopted more nuanced theories to explain the transition from Igneri to Island Carib in the Antilles.
Berend J. Hoff and Douglas Taylor hypothesized that it dated to the time of the Carib expansion through the islands, and that males maintained it to emphasize their origins on the mainland.