Cofán

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A language of Ecuador

ISO 639-3
con
Alternate Names
A’i, Kofán, Kofane
Population

900 in Ecuador (2001 SIL), increasing. Many monolinguals. Population total all countries: 2,400. Ethnic population: 1,500.

Location

Colombia and Ecuador border areas, Napo Province near Santa Rosa de Sucumbios, and down Aguarico river 130 km; Sucumbios Province. 5 main centers. Also in Colombia.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Language isolate
Dialects

Variously classified as Chibchan with Western Tucanoan features (Ferndon, Borman), Barbacoan (J. Mason), or Jivaroan (Ruhlen 1987). Some Witotoan influences.

Typology

SOV

Language Use

Vigorous. Some Siona and Secoya have learned Cofán due to intermarriage, and their children learn Cofán. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Some also use Siona [snn], Secoya [sey], or Napo Lowland Quechua [qvo].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 60%. Literacy rate in L2: 60%. Schools are in Spanish [spa], except for early grades which provide bilingual education. Taught in primary schools. Radio programs. Dictionary. NT: 1980–2007.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Cofán
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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