Purepecha, Western Highland
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A language of Mexico
Alternate Names
P’orhe, P’orhépecha, Purépecha, Purépecha de la Meseta, Purépecha de las Sierras, Purépecha del Oeste de Sierra Occidental, “Tarascan” (pej.), “Tarasco” (pej.)
Autonym
P’urhe, P’urhépecha
User Population
124,000 in Mexico (2010 INALI). Total Purepecha speakers: 142,000 (2020 INEGI). Total users in all countries: 169,000.
Location
Jalisco state: Jilotlan de los Dolores municipality, small border area; Michoacán de Ocampo state: Comachuén east, Cañada de los Once Pueblos north, Nuevo Parangaricutiro south; Tarecuato west.
Language Maps
Language Status
5* (Developing).
Dialects
Cañada de los Once Pueblos, Cantera, Pamatacuaro, Angahuán, Nurío, Arantepacua, Cheran. All Purépecha varieties have functional intelligibility of other Purépecha varieties: the Western varieties have 60%–80% intelligibility of the Eastern. A standard variety is emerging through radio and literature.
Language Use
Also use Spanish [spa].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 40%. Literacy rate in L2: 60%. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1968–2012.