Purepecha

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A language of Mexico

Eastern Lake Purepecha, P’orhe, P’orhépecha, Phorhépecha, Porhé, Purépecha de la Zona Lacustre, “Tarascan” (pej.), “Tarasco” (pej.), “Tarasko” (pej.)

Autonym

P’urhe, P’urhépecha

User Population

41,100 in Mexico (2010 INALI). Total Purepecha speakers: 142,000 (2020 INEGI). Total users in all countries: 56,100.

Location

Michoacán de Ocampo state: Lake Pátzcuaro area, Cuanajo southeast edge, San Francisco Pichataro west edge, and Zipiajo north edge.

Language Maps

5 (Developing).

Cuanajo, Ihuatzio, Isla Janitzio, San Jeronimo, Puacuaro, Cienega de Zacapu. All Purépecha varieties have functional intelligibility of other Purépecha varieties; Eastern varieties have 60%–80% intelligibility of the Western. A standard variety is emerging through radio and literature.

Language Use

All domains. Used by all. Also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 40%. Literacy rate in L2: 60%. Literature. Newspapers. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1969–2012.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Purepecha

Writing

Latin script [Latn].