Kichwa language


Kichwa is a Quechuan language that includes all Quechua varieties of Ecuador and Colombia, as well as extensions into Peru. It has an estimated 1,000,000 speakers.
The most widely spoken dialects are Chimborazo Highland and Imbabura Highland Kichwa, with 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 speakers. Cañar Highland Quechua has 100,000–200,000 speakers; the other dialects have from 10,000 to 20,000 speakers each. Kichwa belongs to the Northern Quechua group of Quechua II, according to linguist Alfredo Torero.

Overview

Kichwa syntax has undergone some grammatical simplification compared to Southern Quechua, perhaps because of partial creolization with the pre-Inca languages of Ecuador.
A standardized language, with a unified orthography, has been developed. It is similar to Chimborazo but lacks some of the phonological peculiarities of that dialect.
The earliest grammatical description of Kichwa was written in the 17th century by Jesuit priest Hernando de Alcocer.

First efforts for language standardization and bilingual education

According to linguist Arturo Muyulema, the first steps to teach Kichwa in public schools dates to the 1940s, when Dolores Cacuango founded several indigenous schools in Cayambe. Later, indigenous organizations initiated self-governed schools to provide education in Kichwa in the 1970s and 1980s.
Muyulema says that the creation of literary works such as Caimi Ñucanchic Shimuyu-Panca, Ñucanchic Llactapac Shimi, Ñucanchic Causaimanta Yachaicuna, and Antisuyu-Punasuyu provided the catalysts for the standardization of Kichwa. This was initiated by DINEIB.
Afterward a new alphabet was created by ALKI. It comprises 21 characters; including three vowels ; two semi-vowels ; and 16 consonants, according to Muyulema's article "Presente y Futuro de la lengua Quichua desde la perspectiva de la experiencia vasca ".
Later, the bigger and much more comprehensive dictionary Kichwa Yachakukkunapa Shimiyuk Kamu was published in 2009 by the linguist Fabián Potosí, together with other scholars sponsored by the Ministry of Education of Ecuador.

Characteristics

In contrast to other regional varieties of Quechua, Kichwa does not distinguish between the original and, which are both pronounced. and, the allophones of the vowels and near, do not exist. Kiru can mean both "tooth" and "wood", and killa can mean both "moon" and "lazy".
Additionally, Kichwa in both Ecuador and Colombia has lost possessive and bidirectional suffixes, as well as the distinction between the exclusive and inclusive first person plural:
On the other hand, other particularities of Quechua have been preserved. As in all Quechuan languages, the words for 'brother' and 'sister' differ depending on to whom they refer. There are four different words for siblings: ñaña, turi, pani, and wawki. A woman reading "Ñuka wawki Pedromi kan" would read aloud Ñuka turi Pedromi kan. If Pedro has a brother Manuel and the sisters Sisa and Elena, their mother could refer to Pedro as Manuelpak wawki or Sisapaj turi. And to Sisa as Manuelpak pani or as Elenapak ñaña.

Dialects

The missionary organization FEDEPI lists eight dialects of Quechua in Ecuador, which it illustrates with "The men will come in two days." Below are the comparisons, along with Standard Kichwa and Standard Quechua:
DialectISO codeSpeakers per SIL PronunciationOrthography Notes
Imbabura300,000 Čay xarikunaka iškay punžapižami šamuŋgaChai jaricunaca ishcai punllapillami shamunga.⟨ll⟩ =
Calderón 25,000Čay xarikunaka iškay punžapižami šamuŋgaChai jaricunaca ishcai punllapillami shamunga.⟨ll⟩ =
Salasaca15,000Či kʰarigunaga iški pʰunžažabimi šamuŋgaChi c'arigunaga ishqui p'unllallabimi shamunga.⟨ll⟩ =
Chimborazo1,000,000 Čay kʰarikunaka iški punžažapimi šamuŋgaChai c'aricunaca ishqui punllallapimi shamunga.⟨ll⟩ =
Cañar–Loja
 qxr: 100,000
qxl: 15,000		Čay kʰarikunaka iškay punžaλapimi šamuŋgaChai c'aricunaca ishcai punzhallapimi shamunga.
Tena Lowland5,000 Či kariunaga iški punžaλaimi šamuŋgaChi cariunaga ishqui punzhallaimi shamunga.
Napo Lowland4,000 Ecu. & 8,000 Peru Či karigunaga iškay punčaλaimi šamunga.Chi carigunaga ishcai punchallaimi shamunga.
Northern Pastaza4,000 Ecu. & 2,000 Peru Či karigunaga iškay punžallaimi šamunga.Chi carigunaga ishcai punzhallaimi shamunga.
Standard Kichwa—Chay karikunaka ishkay punllallapimi shamunka.
Standard Southern Quechua —Čæy qʰarikunaqa iskæy p'unčawllapim hamunqa.Chay qharikunaqa iskay p'unchawllapim hamunqa.

Music

A band from Ecuador, "Los Nin", which raps in Kichwa and Spanish, has toured internationally. The band hails from the town of Otavalo, which is known for its traditional music.
The Ecuadorian band "Yarina", which sings in Kichwa and Spanish, won Best World Music Recording with their album "Nawi" in the 2005 Native American Music Awards
In the Ecuadorian diaspora, the radio station Kichwa Hatari works to revive use of the Kichwa language, music, and culture in the United States.