Chipaya

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A language of Bolivia

ISO 639-3
cap
Alternate Names
Puquina
Autonym
Chipaya
User Population

1,800 (Crevels 2012), increasing. 90 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 2,130 (Crevels 2012).

Location

Oruro department: Atahuallpa province.

Language Maps
Language Status

5* (Developing).

Classification
Chipaya-Uru
Dialects

None known. May be Arawakan or distantly related to Mayan (Olson 1964).

Typology

SOV; 40 consonants and 10 vowels (5 short, 5 long).

Language Use

Vigorous. Primary L2 is shifting from Central Aymara [ayr] to Spanish [spa]. Religious services. Positive attitudes. Also use Central Aymara [ayr]. Also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 50%. 400 children in school. Have a high school. Taught as subject in some primary schools. Grammar. Texts. NT: 1978–2009.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chipaya
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.