Chile

Summary

Official Name

International Conventions

CDE (1971), CPPDCE (2007), CSICH (2008), ICCPR (1972), ILOCITP (2008), UNCRPD (2008), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

19,107,000

Principal Languages

Spanish

Literacy Rate

98% (2015 World Factbook)

General References

Besnier 1992, Campbell 1997, Campbell and King 2011, Crevels 2007, Fabre 2007, Tovar 1961, Tovar 1966, Tovar and Larrucea de Tovar 1984, Wurm and Hattori 1981

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Chile is 12. All are living languages. Of these, 8 are indigenous and 4 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 2 are developing, 1 is vigorous, 3 are in trouble, and 4 are dying. Also listed are 2 unestablished languages.

Languages

Aymara, Central ayr: Antofagasta, Arica and Parinacota, and Tarapacá regions: Iquique area, extreme north mountains. Users: 19,000 in Chile (Fabre 2007). Ethnic population: 48,500 (2002). About half have some knowledge of the language (Crevels 2007). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Recognized language (1993, Indigenous Peoples Law (No. 19.253)), Bilingual education programs in highland areas. Alternate Names: Aimara, Aymar, Aymar aru Classification: Aymaran, Aymara
Chilean Sign Language csg: Scattered. Users: 21,000 (Parks et al 2011a). 292,700 people with some level of auditory deficiency (2005 Fondo Nacional de la Discapacidad); 66,500 people with total deafness (23,900 less than 60 years old) (2002 census); others give estimates as high as 500,000 users (2018 J. Atala). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2010, Article 26 of Law No. 20.422), recognizes sign language as the natural means of communication of the Deaf community. Alternate Names: LENSE, LSCh, Lengua de Señas Chilena, Lenguaje Chileno de Signos, Lenguaje de Señas Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
English eng: Users: 1,965,500 in Chile, all users. L1 users: 15,500 in Chile (2020 Joshua Project). L2 users: 1,950,000 (2019 World Factbook). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Inglés Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
German, Standard deu: Major cities. Users: 45,000 in Chile (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Alemán, Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Greek ell: Users: 7,000 in Chile (2020 Joshua Project). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Huilliche huh: Los Lagos and Los Ríos regions: Valdivia to Chiloé south of Mapuche. Users: A few elderly speakers (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 2,000 (1982 SIL). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Huilche, Huiliche, Veliche, “Beliche” (pej.) Classification: Mapudungu
Italian ita: Users: 38,000 in Chile (2020 Joshua Project). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Kunza kuz: Antofagasta region: El Loa province; Caspana, Peine, and Socaire (Salar de Atacama). Users: No known L1 speakers. The last speakers either died or shifted entirely to Spanish by 1978. Ethnic population: 21,000 (2002 census). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Atacameño, Likan Antai, Likanantaí, Lipe, Ulipe Classification: Language isolate
Mapudungun arn: Araucanía, Bíobío, Los Lagos, and Los Ríos regions: Arauco, Bíobío, Valdivia, Osorno. Users: 250,000 in Chile (Crevels 2007). Ethnic population: 604,000 (2002). Total users in all countries: 258,410. Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (1993, Indigenous Peoples Law (No. 19.253)). Alternate Names: Araucana, Mapuche, Mapudungu, Mapuzungun, “Araucano” (pej.) Autonym: Mapudungun Classification: Mapudungu
Qawasqar alc: Magallanes region: West Patagonia, Channel area, Isle of Wellington off south Chilean coast, 49 degrees south. Center is Puerto Edén. Users: 12 (2006 O. Aguilera). 10 in Puerto Edén. Ethnic population: 100 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Alacalouf, Alacaluf, Alacalufe, Alaculoof, Alaculuf, Alakaluf, Alikaluf, Alikhoolip, Alikuluf, Alilkoolif, Alokolup, Alooculoof, Alookooloop, Alucaluf, Alukoeluf, Alukulup, Halakwulup, Kaweskar, Kawesqar Classification: Kaweskaran
Quechua, South Bolivian quh: Antofagasta region. Users: 1,000 in Chile (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 6,180 (Crevels 2012). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Runasimi Classification: Quechuan, Peripheral Quechua, Chinchay, Southern Chinchay
Rapa Nui rap: Valparaíso region: Easter Island, 3,800 km from Chile, 4,000 km from Tahiti. Users: 1,000 (2016 R. Weber). Ethnic population: 5,000 (Kieviet 2016). Approximately 3,600 on Easter Island. Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (1993, Indigenous Peoples Law (No. 19.253)). Alternate Names: Easter Island, Pascuense, Rapanui Autonym: Rapa Nui Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Rapanui
Spanish spa: Users: 19,083,000 in Chile, all users. L1 users: 18,300,000 in Chile (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 783,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Alternate Names: Castellano, Español Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Yámana yag: Magallanes region: Patagonia area, Navarino island, Puerto Williams, Ukika hamlet. Users: 1 in Chile (2018). One elderly speaker in Puerto Williams, Cristina Calderón, age 89 (2018). Ethnic population: 70 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Tequenica, Yaghan, Yagán, Yahgan Autonym: Háusi Kúta Classification: Language isolate

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Spanish

[spa] 1 (National). De facto national language. 19,083,000 in Chile, all users. L1 users: 18,300,000 in Chile (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 783,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 1,965,500 in Chile, all users. L1 users: 15,500 in Chile (2020 Joshua Project). L2 users: 1,950,000 (2019 World Factbook).

5 (Dispersed)

German, Standard

[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 45,000 in Chile (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity.

5 (Developing)

Chilean Sign Language

[csg] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2010, Article 26 of Law No. 20.422), recognizes sign language as the natural means of communication of the Deaf community. 21,000 (Parks et al 2011a). 292,700 people with some level of auditory deficiency (2005 Fondo Nacional de la Discapacidad); 66,500 people with total deafness (23,900 less than 60 years old) (2002 census); others give estimates as high as 500,000 users (2018 J. Atala).

6a (Vigorous)

Quechua, South Bolivian

[quh] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,000 in Chile (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 6,180 (Crevels 2012).

6b (Threatened)

Mapudungun

[arn] 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (1993, Indigenous Peoples Law (No. 19.253)). 250,000 in Chile (Crevels 2007). Ethnic population: 604,000 (2002). Total users in all countries: 258,410.

Aymara, Central

[ayr] 6b* (Threatened). Recognized language (1993, Indigenous Peoples Law (No. 19.253)), Bilingual education programs in highland areas. 19,000 in Chile (Fabre 2007). Ethnic population: 48,500 (2002). About half have some knowledge of the language (Crevels 2007).

Rapa Nui

[rap] 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (1993, Indigenous Peoples Law (No. 19.253)). 1,000 (2016 R. Weber). Ethnic population: 5,000 (Kieviet 2016). Approximately 3,600 on Easter Island.

9 (Dormant)

Kunza

[kuz] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers. The last speakers either died or shifted entirely to Spanish by 1978. Ethnic population: 21,000 (2002 census).