Iquitu

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A language of Peru

ISO 639-3
iqu
Alternate Names
Amacacore, Hamacore, Ikito, Ikitu, Iquita, Iquito, Puca-Uma, Quiturran
Autonym
Akenóiri
User Population

25 (Beier et al 2011), decreasing. 1 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 520 (2007 census).

Location

Loreto region: Atalaya and San Antonio on Chambira, Nanay, and Pintoyacu rivers.

Language Maps
Language Status

8b (Nearly extinct).

Classification
Zaparoan, Iquito-Cahuarano
Dialects

Pintuyacu. Cahuarano [cah] may be a dialect.

Typology

SVO; agglutinative language; verbal morphology exclusively suffixal; verbs are marked for tense and aspect; 11 consonants and 8 vowels (4 short, 4 long).

Language Use

Elderly only. Negative attitudes. Shifted to Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 75%. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 1963–2002. Moribund, but revitalization efforts in progress (2015 L. Michael).

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Iquitu
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

In 1958–1966 there were 100 speakers on the verge of extinction and acculturation to Spanish-speaking society. Children understood but did not speak, adults were bilingual with Spanish, older people understood Spanish, but only spoke Iquito. Speakers died from measles, whooping cough, and pneumonia. The rubber boom and landowner (patron) system had devastating effects. Christian.