Aymara, Central

A language of Bolivia

Location

La Paz, Oruro, and Potosí departments: west of eastern Andes.

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Argentina

Language NameAymara, Central

User Population

4,100 in Argentina (Crevels 2012).

Location

Jujuy and Salta provinces: in the mountains and urban areas.

Alternate Names

Aimara

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Quite a few come from Bolivia looking for work.

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Chile

Language NameAymara, Central

User Population

19,000 in Chile (Fabre 2007). Ethnic population: 48,500 (2002). About half have some knowledge of the language (Crevels 2007).

Location

Antofagasta, Arica and Parinacota, and Tarapacá regions: Iquique area, extreme north mountains.

Alternate Names

Aimara, Aymar, Aymar aru

Language Status

6b* (Threatened). Recognized language (1993, Indigenous Peoples Law (No. 19.253)), Bilingual education programs in highland areas.

Language Use

Due to acculturation, the language is especially being lost at a rapid pace in coastal areas and the valleys. Fewer than one-third transmit the language to their children (Crevels 2007). Also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Bilingual education is being implemented in some schools in the highland.

Other Comments

Only one-third of the Aymaras still live in the rural communities of their traditional homeland; most now live in the urban areas (Fabre 2007).

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Peru

Language NameAymara, Central

User Population

443,000 in Peru (2007 census). Ethnic population: 443,000 (2007 census).

Location

Moquegua, Puno, and Tacna regions: Lake Titicaca area.

Alternate Names

Aimara, Aymara

Dialects

Lupaca is the main literary dialect.

Language Status

5 (Developing). Recognized language (1993, Constitution, Article 48).

Language Use

In spite of many speakers, considered potentially endangered due to lack of intergenerational transmission of the language (Crevels 2007). Used by all.

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Aymara, Central

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A language of Bolivia

Also spoken in:

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