Media Lengua

A language of Ecuador

ISO 639: mue
Alternate Names: Chapu-shimi, Chaupi-lengua, Chaupi-shimi, Quichuañol, Uchilla-shimi, “Llanga-shimi” (pej.)
Population: 2,600 (Gómez-Rendón 2008). No monolinguals.
Location:: Cotopaxi province: Latacunga canton; Tungurahua province: Santiago de Pillaro canton, border area.
Language Status: 6b (Threatened).
Classification: Mixed language, Spanish-Quichua
Dialects: Imbabura Media Lengua, Cotopaxi Media Lengua. Dialectal variations are most noticeable in the pronunciation of the Quichua elements which are based on the surrounding Quichua dialects, in this case northern and central varieties.
Typology: Quichua systemic elements (phonology and morphosyntax) with Spanish lexicon.
Language Use: Used only within the speech community on an informal basis (2015 J. Stewart). Some young people, all adults. All ages in Angla, but only those 35 and over in Pijal (Gómez-Rendón 2008). Negative attitudes. Also use Spanish [spa].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 50% in Spanish [spa].
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Media Lengua
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: No longer spoken in Cotopaxi (Shappeck 2011).

Location: Cotopaxi province: Latacunga canton; Tungurahua province: Santiago de Pillaro canton, border area.