Page Type: languageQuechua, San Martín | Ethnologue

QVS ISO 639-3

Quechua, San Martín

Llakwash, San Martin Kechwa Autonym

A language of Peru

ISO 639
qvs
Alternate Names
Kechwa de San Martin, Lama, Lamano, Lamas Kichwa, Lamas Quechua, Lamista, Lamisto, Llakwash Quechua, Llakwash Runashimi, Motilón, Ucayali
Autonym
Llakwash, San Martin Kechwa
Population
15,000 (2000 SIL), decreasing. 2,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 44,000 (2000).
Location:
Amazonas region: Roderigo de Menedez province; Loreto region: one enclave; San Martin region: Lamas, Sisa and other districts, and along Ucayali river.
Language Status
6b* (Threatened).
Classification
Quechuan, Peripheral Quechua, Chinchay, Northern Chinchay
Dialects
Several minor dialects. A member of macrolanguage Quechua [que].
Typology
SOV; 15 consonants and 3 vowels.
Language Use
Little transmission to children. Bilingual parents want their children to learn Spanish. Used by shamans in chants. Protestants use it in singing with published hymnbook. Scattered occasional use in religious services apart from singing. Negative attitudes. Embarrassed to be heard using the language. Most also use Spanish [spa].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. 1,500 readers, 400 can write. Some oral and a little written Quechua taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1992–2008.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Quechua, San Martín
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
The town of Lamas is cultural center. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Amazonas region: Roderigo de Menedez province; Loreto region: one enclave; San Martin region: Lamas, Sisa and other districts, and along Ucayali river.