Qawasqar

A language of Chile

Alacalouf, Alacaluf, Alacalufe, Alaculoof, Alaculuf, Alakaluf, Alikaluf, Alikhoolip, Alikuluf, Alilkoolif, Alokolup, Alooculoof, Alookooloop, Alucaluf, Alukoeluf, Alukulup, Halakwulup, Kaweskar, Kawesqar

User Population

12 (2006 O. Aguilera). 10 in Puerto Edén. Ethnic population: 100 (Crevels 2012).

Location

Magallanes region: West Patagonia, Channel area, Isle of Wellington off south Chilean coast, 49 degrees south. Center is Puerto Edén.

8b (Nearly extinct).

Aksanás (Aksana). Dialects are generally divided into three groups, northern, central and southern, of which only the northern is still spoken (Viegas Barros 1990).

Typology

19 consonants and 6 vowels.

Language Use

Most shifted to Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Dictionary. Grammar. Texts.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Qawasqar

Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Aksanás has been shown by Clairis to be a misinterpretation of old Qawasqar; it is a phantom (Campbell and Grondona 2012).