Capanahua

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A language of Peru

ISO 639-3
kaq
Alternate Names
Kapanawa
Population

50 (Crevels 2007). No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 350–400 (Crevels 2007).

Location

Tapiche-Buncuya rivers area.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Panoan, Mainline, Shipibo
Dialects

Pahenbaquebo. Most similar language is Shipibo [shp]. Lexical similarity: 50%–60% with Shipibo [shp].

Typology

SOV

Language Use

Few children speakers: one-third have passive knowledge but generally do not acquire Capanahua (2007). Use of Spanish between two Capanahua speakers can be interpreted as rejecting the other person as an outsider. Adults in the home. Used to some degree in 2 bilingual schools.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 10%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1978–2008.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Capanahua
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

“Capacho” is a pejorative term. Christian, traditional religion.