MAPUDUNGUN: a language of Chile

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: ARU

ISO 639-2: arn

Population 400,000 in Chile, 200,000 of whom are active users of the language (1982 R. Croese SIL). Population total both countries 440,000.
Region Between the Itata and Tolten rivers. Also spoken in Argentina.
Alternate names   MAPUDUNGU, 'ARAUCANO', MAPUCHE
Dialects MOLUCHE (NGOLUCHE, MANZANERO), PICUNCHE, PEHUENCHE.
Classification Araucanian.
Comments Easy intelligibility among all dialects. Pehuenche and Moluche are very close. Bilingual level estimates for Spanish are 0 0%, 1 8%, 2 50%, 3 30%, 4 10%, 5 2%. Partly bilingual in Spanish. The language is called 'Mapudungun'; the people 'Mapuche.' SVO. Literacy rate in first language: Below 1%. Literacy rate in second language: 21%. 85,000 are reported to be literate in Spanish. Deciduous forest, rolling farm land. Mountain slope, coastal, plains, riverine. Peasant agriculturalists. 0 to 2,000 meters. Traditional religion, Christian. NT 1997.

Also spoken in:

Argentina   
Language name   MAPUDUNGUN
Population 40,000 or more in Argentina (1975 Golbert).
Alternate names   ARAUCANO, MAPUTONGO, MAPUCHE, MAPUDUNGU
Dialects PEHUENCHE.
Comments One or more dialects. Recent migration from Chile. NT 1997. See main entry under Chile.
 

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