Quichua, Loja Highland

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Ecuador

ISO 639-3
qvj
Alternate Names
Azuay Quichua, Loja Quichua, Saraguro Quichua
Autonym
Runa Shimi
User Population

30,500 (2000). Total Quichua in Ecuador: 408,000 (Crevels 2012).

Location

Azuay province; El Oro province: Portovelo and Zeruma cantons; Loja province: Sarragaro area; Zamora-Chinchipe province: Yacuambi canton, sizable community in Zamora city; southern highlands.

Language Maps
Language Status

8a (Moribund).

Classification
Quechuan, Peripheral Quechua, Chinchay, Northern Chinchay
Dialects

None known. Very similar to Cañar Highland Quichua [qxr]; some consider them to be a single language (2020 R. Aschmann). A member of macrolanguage Quechua [que].

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

Older adults only. Positive attitudes. Shifted to Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Only standardized or Unified Quichua is taught formally.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Quichua, Loja Highland
Writing

Latin script [Latn], experimental usage.

Other Comments

Trend to see Unified Quichua as proper grammar. Traditional religion, Christian.