Quechua, Arequipa-La Unión

A language of Peru

ISO 639: qxu
Alternate Names: Arequipa Quechua, Cotahuasi Quechua, Quechua de Arequipa, Quechua de La Unión
Autonym: Runasimi
Population: 18,600 (2000). 10,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 32,000.
Location:: Arequipa region: La Unión province, Cotahuasi district, Apurímac department, Antabamba province; Ayacucho and Cusco regions.
Language Status: 5 (Developing).
Classification: Quechuan, Peripheral Quechua, Chinchay, Southern Chinchay, Southern Peruvian Quechua
Dialects: Cotahuasi, Northern Arequipa, Highland Arequipa, Antabamba (Apurímac). Reportedly more similar linguistically to Cusco than to Ayacucho. Very similar to Eastern Apurímac [qve]. A member of macrolanguage Quechua [que].
Typology: SOV.
Language Use: Vigorous. Used in some schools. Some families switched to Spanish. Other language speakers use Quechua to talk to monolinguals. Administration, commerce, labor relations, religious services. Used by all. Negative attitudes. Considered inferior to Spanish [spa]. Most also use Spanish [spa]. Also use Cusco Quechua [quz], in schools.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 5%. Literacy rate in L2: 30%. 600 readers, 200 can write. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1993–1998.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Quechua, Arequipa-La Unión
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Christian.

Location: Arequipa region: La Unión province, Cotahuasi district, Apurímac department, Antabamba province; Ayacucho and Cusco regions.