Media Lengua

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A language of Ecuador

ISO 639-3
mue
Alternate Names
Chapu-shimi, Chaupi-lengua, Chaupi-shimi, Quichuañol, Uchilla-shimi, “Llanga-shimi” (pej.)
User Population

2,600 (Gómez-Rendón 2008). No monolinguals.

Location

Cotopaxi province: Latacunga canton; Tungurahua province: Santiago de Pillaro canton, border area.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Mixed language, Spanish-Quichua
Dialects

Imbabura Media Lengua, Cotopaxi Media Lengua. Dialectal variations are most noticeable in the pronunciation of the Quichua elements which are based on the surrounding Quichua dialects, in this case northern and central varieties.

Typology

Quichua systemic elements (phonology and morphosyntax) with Spanish lexicon.

Language Use

Used only within the speech community on an informal basis (2015 J. Stewart). Some young people, all adults. All ages in Angla, but only those 35 and over in Pijal (Gómez-Rendón 2008). Negative attitudes. Also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 50% in Spanish [spa].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Media Lengua
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

No longer spoken in Cotopaxi (Shappeck 2011).