Quechua is the language of the Indian people of South America, belonging to the linguistic group of the same name. It has the largest number of speakers in the Americas. It was considered the official language of the state of Chincha before the colonization of South America, after - the state of Tahuantinsuyu. Currently, over 14 million people speak Quechua in South America. Sometimes used in the Amazon as a lingua franca. In Argentina, Ecuador and Bolivia, it is referred to as "Quichua". The modern version of literary Quechua uses a script based on the Spanish version of the Latin alphabet and a clear set of rules. It is taught in schools, but not everywhere. Catholic missionaries used the Quechua language to convert South American Indians to Christianity. According to the SIL classification, Quechua dialects are considered different languages. Kuskan Quechua is considered a literary linguistic norm.
History and origins
Quechua, together with Sura and Saimara, is sometimes combined into one language group "Kecumara". Most of the vocabulary in them is identical, there are coincidences in grammar, butit is not possible to reconstruct a common ancestor based on these data. Quechua and Aymara belong to the Araucan linguistic group of the Andean family, they are similar to the Arawakan and Tupi-Guarani and are part of the Amerindian macrofamily.
Quechua before the conquest
The original area of Quechua was relatively small and approximately extended to the Cuso Valley and some areas on the map of Bolivia, coinciding with the area of one of the dialects. According to one theory, the language began to spread from the ancient city of Caral in central Peru.
The Incas, who came from the southeast and spoke Capac Simi, appreciated the combination of the ease of learning and the richness of the Quechua language, making it the state language in their empire. The Chincha culture created a wide trading network on the territory of the Inca Empire, and the use of Quechua in trade transactions contributed to its rapid spread in the state. This allowed the language to soon displace other dialects even in remote areas, for example, in modern Ecuador, where the Inca rule held for a couple of decades.
Distribution area
According to the information of the Kipukamayoks-Incas, the area of distribution of the Quechuan languages and their status were determined by law under Viracocha Inca in the XIV-XV centuries. According to the orders, Quichua was considered the main one in the whole state due to its lightness and clarity. On the maps of Bolivia and Peru, the region of the "language of the mountain valleys" is marked as the area between Cusco and Charcasi.
Practically the entire population of Tahuantinsuyuby the time the Spanish colonialists appeared, they not only knew Quechua, but also considered it their native language (in addition to the official Uruipukin and Inkamiaymara).
1533-1780
Catholic missionaries, leading Christian sermons among the peoples of South America, including the Quechua Indians in Peru, appreciated the possibilities of the language, strengthening its position. The Bible was translated into it, which made it easier to spread the Christian faith.
During the period of Spanish colonization, Quechua retained the status of one of the most important languages of the region. All the officials of the Viceroy alty of Peru were supposed to know it, sermons were conducted on it and state documents were drawn up. The Italian historian Giovanni Anello Oliva noted that Aymara and Quichua are spoken in the province of Cusco, but in some villages of Peru, languages are used that are radically different from each other.
1781 - mid-20th century
The Quechua policy was drastically changed by the Spanish colonial authorities after the defeat of the uprising of José Gabriel Condorcanca, primarily in order to prevent and suppress the national liberation movements led by the peoples of the Andes. Public use was forbidden and severely punished. The local aristocracy was almost completely killed, which negatively affected the preservation of the language. For a long time, he was considered of little prestige and was inherent only to the lower classes.
The position of the Quechua did not change much after the independence of the Andean countries in the 1820s, since throughoutFor a long time, power was concentrated in the hands of the Creole elite. The teaching of the Quechua language to the people was resumed only in 1938.
Today
The political parties of the Andean countries in the 60s of the XX century, trying to gain the support of the masses and being influenced by socialist ideas and the national liberation movement, began to launch programs aimed at restoring the status of Quechua. In May 1975, the language became official in Peru, in August 1977 - in Bolivia. It began to produce television and radio programs, publish newspapers. Launched several radio stations, including the Catholic "Voice of the Andes" in Ecuador.
Dialects and distribution
Quechua is traditionally divided into two groups of dialects: Quechua I, also known as Quechua B or Waywash, and Quechua II - Quechua A or Anpuna. Due to their strong differences from each other, dialects are often considered different languages.
Quechua I dialects and their distribution area
The dialects of this language group are distributed in a small area in central Peru: from the southern region of Juninna to the northern region of Ancashna. Including, in the mountainous provinces of the regions of Icai, Lima and Huancavelica and a small enclave near the village of Urpay, located in the southeastern region of La Libertad. This dialect is spoken by almost 2 million people, while it is considered the most conservative language group that has retained the original linguistic features.
Quechua II dialect groups and their distribution
The distribution area of these dialects is huge due to the large number of Quechua-speaking Indians. Linguists distinguish several subgroups of dialects, divided into southern and northern branches:
- II-A, or yunkai. Heterogeneous dialects common in the western part of Peru. They are owned by 66 thousand people. The same group included the dialect of the village of Pacaraos, located in the province of Huaral, department of Lima, which today, unfortunately, has lost its native speakers. The listed dialects are considered intermediate between Quechua I and Quechua II, while the northern dialects are characterized by similarities with Quechua II and Quechua II-C, and the dialect of the village of Pacaraos is similar to Quechua I dialects, since it was surrounded by them. In view of this, some linguists attribute it to this group, although it can be considered a full-fledged branch.
- II-B, or northern chinchai. Dialects of this subgroup are common in northern Peru, Ecuador, regions of Colombia and some regions of Bolivia. Native speakers - almost 2.5 million people. The "forest" dialects of the language were strongly influenced by languages that were in use before the spread and assimilation of Quechua, for example, Saparo.
- II-C, or southern chinchai. It is the language spoken in Bolivia, Southern Peru, Chile and Argentina. The number of speakers is more than 8.7 million people. Literary Quechua is based on the dialects of this group, while the vocabulary and phonetics of southern Quechua are tied to Aymara.
Quechua dialects are widely spoken in the mountainous regions of Peru, coastal cities, in particular, in Lima, the capital of the country.
Dialect groups are mutually intelligible only to a limited extent. Speakers of southern dialects can understand each other well. The situation is practically the same with the speakers of the northern subgroup of dialects (with the exception of "forest" dialects). Mutual understanding between northern and southern Quechua is difficult.
Creole languages and pidgins
Quechua became the basis for the secret language of Callahuaya, which was used by women healers. In many ways, it was based on the vocabulary of a dead pukin. In addition, some Quechua-Spanish Creole languages combine Quechua grammar and Spanish vocabulary.
Writing
For a long time it was believed that the Incas lacked a full-fledged written language. This point of view was beneficial to the Spanish colonialists, who could impose their moral and cultural values on the indigenous peoples of the Andes. However, there is evidence proving that tokaku patterns on fabrics and ceramics of the Incas were writing. In addition, there were references to the fact that the Incas kept their chronicle on golden tablets.
Quechua began to be written in the Spanish alphabet after the conquest, but the significant difference between the phonemic systems of Spanish and Quechua led to various problems and inconsistencies. After several reforms - in 1975 and 1985 - the standard alphabet of southern Quechua began to have 28 letters.
Current Status
Quechua, like Aymara and Spanish, has gained state status in Bolivia and Peru since the 70s of the XX century, since 2008year - in Ecuador on a par with Spanish and Shuar. According to the Colombian constitution, Amerindian languages receive official status in the areas where they are most spoken.
