Quechua, San Martín

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A language of Peru

ISO 639-3
qvs
Alternate Names
Kechwa de San Martin, Lama, Lamano, Lamas Kichwa, Lamas Quechua, Lamista, Lamisto, Llakwash Quechua, Llakwash Runashimi, Motilón, Ucayali
Autonym
Llakwash, San Martin Kechwa
User Population

15,000 (2000 SIL), decreasing. 2,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 44,000 (2000).

Location

Amazonas region: Roderigo de Menedez province; Loreto region: one enclave; San Martin region: Lamas, Sisa and other districts, and along Ucayali river.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Classification
Quechuan, Peripheral Quechua, Chinchay, Northern Chinchay
Dialects

Several minor dialects. A member of macrolanguage Quechua [que].

Typology

SOV; 15 consonants and 3 vowels.

Language Use

Little transmission to children. Bilingual parents want their children to learn Spanish. Used by shamans in chants. Protestants use it in singing with published hymnbook. Scattered occasional use in religious services apart from singing. Negative attitudes. Embarrassed to be heard using the language. Most also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. 1,500 readers, 400 can write. Taught as subject in some primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1992–2008.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Quechua, San Martín
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

The town of Lamas is cultural center. Traditional religion, Christian.