Quechua, Huaylas Ancash

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A language of Peru

Alternate Names
Runa Shimi
Autonym
Anqas Qichwa, Qichwa
User Population

173,000 (2017 census).

Location

Ancash region: Caraz, Carhuaz, and Huaraz provinces; Callejón de Huaylas.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Dialects

Huaraz (Huaraz Quechua), Yungay, Huailas (Huaylas). Not intelligible of Cusco [quz], Ayacucho [quy], Huaylla Wanca Quechua [qvw], Cajamarca [qvc], Chachapoyas Quechua [quk], or San Martín Quechua [qvs] (Parker 1976). A member of macrolanguage Quechua [que].

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

People in and near the mestizo towns in the valley increasingly proficient in Spanish. Communities at higher elevations maintain use in all domains. Bilinguals working in an office will use mostly Spanish at work. Use of the language in the communities away from and above the mestizo population centers is vigorous (2011 D. Hintz). Home, friends, market, social gatherings. Some young people, all adults. Few children in lower elevation and higher population areas, all children at the higher elevations. Positive attitudes. Many also use Spanish [spa], especially men.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: Below 5%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Taught as subject in many primary schools. Literature. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 2019.

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian.