Capanahua | Ethnologue

A language of Peru

ISO 639: kaq
Alternate Names: Capabaquebo, Capanawa, Kapanawa, Nuquencaibo, “Capacho” (pej.)
Autonym: Capa Baquebo
Population: 100 (Crevels 2012). Some may be in voluntary isolation (2013 Ministry of Education). No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 380 (2007 census).
Location:: Loreto region: Tapiche-Buncuya rivers area.
Language Status: 6b* (Threatened).
Classification: Panoan, Mainline, Shipibo
Dialects: Pahenbaquebo. Lexical similarity: 50%–60% with Shipibo [shp].
Typology: SOV; 16 consonants and 8 vowels (4 short, 4 long).
Language Use: Few child speakers: one-third have passive knowledge but generally do not acquire Capanahua (Crevels 2007). Use of Spanish [spa] between two Capanahua speakers can be interpreted as rejecting the other person as an outsider. Adults in the home.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Below 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Dictionary. Texts. NT: 1978–2008.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Capanahua
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: “Capacho” is a pejorative term. Christian, traditional religion.

Location: Loreto region: Tapiche-Buncuya rivers area.