Qawasqar

A language of Chile

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Alacaluf, Alacalufe, Halakwulup, Kaweskar, Kawesqar

Population

12 (2006 O. Aguilera). 10 in Puerto Edén. Ethnic population: 2,620 (2002 census).

Location

West Patagonia, Channel Region, Isle of Wellington off south Chilean coast, 49 degrees south. Center is Puerto Edén.

Language Status

8b (Nearly extinct).

Classification

Dialects

Aksanás (Aksana).

Language Use

Also use Spanish [spa] (Crevels 2007).

Language Development

Dictionary. Grammar.

Language Resources

Other Comments

Aksanás vocabulary differences might be explained by word taboo (Suárez 1977).