Kawésqar language

Endangered Alacalufan language of Chile From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kawésqar (Qawasqar), also known as Alacaluf,[3] is a critically endangered Alacalufan language spoken in southern Chile by the Kawésqar people. Originally part of a small family,[4] only the northern language remains. In 2009, only a handful of elderly people spoke the language, most of whom lived on Wellington Island off the southwest coast of Chile.[2]

NativetoChile
RegionChannel Region, western Patagonia, Wellington Island off south Chilean coast, 49° south, with centre in Villa Puerto Edén.
Ethnicity2,600 Alacaluf people (2002 census)[1]
Native speakers
10 (2019)[2]
Quick facts Native to, Region ...
Kawésqar
Alacaluf
Kawésqar, Qawasqar
Native toChile
RegionChannel Region, western Patagonia, Wellington Island off south Chilean coast, 49° south, with centre in Villa Puerto Edén.
Ethnicity2,600 Alacaluf people (2002 census)[1]
Native speakers
10 (2019)[2]
Alacalufan
  • Kawésqar
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3alc
Glottologqawa1238
ELPKawésqar
Kawésqar is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger.
This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.
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Phonology

Vowels

More information Front, Central ...
Front Central Back
Close i u
Mid e o
Open æ a
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Consonants

More information Labial, Alveolar ...
Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Uvular Glottal
Nasal m n ŋ
Plosive Plain p t t͡ɕ k q ʔ
Ejective pʼ tʼ t͡ɕʼ kʼ
Fricative f s x h
Tap / flap ɾ
Trill r
Approximant w l j
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Alphabet

The alphabet in use has the following letters: a, æ, c, cꞌ, e, f, h, i, j, k, kꞌ, l, m, n, o, p, pꞌ, q, r, rr, s, t, tꞌ, u, w, x. However, differences are reported between dialects, and some sounds are not represented.

Morphology and syntax

Kawésqar has a complex system of grammatical tense, which includes a basic morphological contrast between future, present, immediate past, recent past, distant past, and mythological past events.

See also

Bibliography

  • Aguilera Faúndez, Oscar (1978). Léxico Kawesqar-Español, Español-Kawesqar. Boletín de filología (Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras) 29.
  • Aguilera Faúndez, Oscar (2001): Gramática de la lengua kawésqar. Temuco: Corporación de Desarrollo Indígena.
  • Clairis, Christos (1987): El qawasqar. Lingüística fueguina. Teoría y descripción. Valdivia: Universidad Austral de Chile [Anejo de Estudios Filológicos 12].
  • Adelaar, Willem & Muysken, Pieter C. 2004. The Languages of the Andes. Cambridge Language Surveys. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

References

External links

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