Quechua, Cusco

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Peru

ISO 639-3
quz
Alternate Names
Cuzco, Cuzco Quechua, Qheswa, Qheswasimi, Quechua Cusco, Quechua Qosqo-Qollaw, Quechua de Cusco-Collao, Qusqu qhichwa simi, Qusqu runasimi
Autonym
Runasimi, Runasimi Qusqu Qullaw
User Population

1,500,000 (1989 UBS). Total Quechua in Peru 3,500,000–4,400,000 including Quechua I 750,000, Quechua II 2,680,000 (2000 W. Adelaar). 300,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,500,000.

Location

Apurimac, Arequipa, Cusco, Moquegua, Madre de Dios, and Puno regions.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

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

Caylloma Quechua, Eastern Apurímac Quechua, Puno Quechua. Some dialect differences, but not as distinct as elsewhere. Substantial phonological and morphological differences with Ayacucho Quechua. A member of macrolanguage Quechua [que].

Typology

SOV; 28 consonants and 5 vowels.

Language Use

City people generally want children to speak primarily Spanish [spa]. Used by all. Most also use Spanish [spa], especially in urban areas, but also in rural areas. Used as L2 by Arequipa-La Unión Quechua [qxu].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 62%. Taught in some primary schools in early grades only. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1988–2004.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Quechua, Cusco
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.