Iquitu | Ethnologue

A language of Peru

ISO 639: iqu
Alternate Names: Amacacore, Hamacore, Ikito, Ikitu, Iquita, Iquito, Puca-Uma, Quiturran
Autonym: Akenóiri
Population: 25 (Beier et al 2011), decreasing. 1 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 520 (2007 census).
Location:: Loreto region: Atalaya and San Antonio on Chambira, Nanay, and Pintoyacu rivers.
Language Status: 8b (Nearly extinct).
Classification: Zaparoan, Iquito-Cahuarano
Dialects: Pintuyacu. Cahuarano [cah] may be a dialect.
Typology: SVO; agglutinative language; verbal morphology exclusively suffixal; verbs are marked for tense and aspect; 11 consonants and 8 vowels (4 short, 4 long).
Language Use: Elderly only. Negative attitudes. Shifted to Spanish [spa].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 75%. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 1963–2002. Moribund, but revitalization efforts in progress (2015 L. Michael).
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Iquitu
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: In 1958–1966 there were 100 speakers on the verge of extinction and acculturation to Spanish-speaking society. Children understood but did not speak, adults were bilingual with Spanish, older people understood Spanish, but only spoke Iquito. Speakers died from measles, whooping cough, and pneumonia. The rubber boom and landowner (patron) system had devastating effects. Christian.

Location: Loreto region: Atalaya and San Antonio on Chambira, Nanay, and Pintoyacu rivers.