Aché

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A language of Paraguay

ISO 639-3
guq
Alternate Names
Ache-Guayaki, Axe, “Guaiaqui” (pej.), “Guayakí” (pej.), “Guoyagui” (pej.)
Population

1,000 (2006 census). 50 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,420.

Location

Canindeyú Department, Chupa Pou, Kontuwy, Kontuwywe, and Arroyo Bandera; Caaguazú Department, Cerro Moroti; Alto Paraná Department, Puerto Barra; Caazapá Department, Ypetimi.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Tupian, Tupí-Guaraní, Guaraní
Dialects

Ache gatu, Ache purä, Ache wa, Ñacunday River Ache (“Ache irollä” (pej.)). 3 dialects remaining, Ache purä is dormant. High Intelligibility between Ache gatu and Ache wa, only Ñancunday River Ache’s intelligibility is low for the other two dialects.

Typology

SOV; postpositions; noun head initial; content q-word initial; clause constituents indicated by word order; both tense and aspect; passives; nontonal; 15 consonant and 12 vowel phonemes

Language Use

Home, friends; mixed use: Religion. All ages. Positive attitudes. 80% are bilingual in Paraguayan Guaraní [gug], 30% in Spanish [spa] and less than 1% in Portuguese [por].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 20%. Literacy rate in L2: 80% in Guaraní [gug]. Taught in primary schools. Poetry. New media. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1978–2007.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Aché
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Christian, traditional religion.