Quechua, Ayacucho

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A language of Peru

ISO 639-3
quy
Alternate Names
Chanca, Chanka
Autonym
Chanka runasimi, Runasimi
User Population

900,000 (2000 SIL), decreasing. 300,000 monolinguals.

Location

Ayacucho and Huancavelica regions; Apurimac, Arequipa, Cusco, Ica, Junin, and Lima regions.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Classification
Quechuan, Peripheral Quechua, Chinchay, Southern Chinchay, Southern Peruvian Quechua
Dialects

Andahuaylas, Huancavelica. Lexical similarity: 96% with Surcubamba, Puquio, and Cusco [quz]. A member of macrolanguage Quechua [que].

Typology

SOV; 14 consonants and 3 vowels.

Language Use

Vigorous. Most domains. Written form used in religious services. Negative attitudes. Considered inferior to Spanish [spa]. Most also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Perhaps 10,000 read it, 2,000 can write it. Oral and written Quechua used in some schools, some universities. Taught as subject in some primary schools. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1987–2011.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Quechua, Ayacucho
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.