Aymara, Central

A language of Bolivia

ISO 639-3

ayr

Alternate Names

Aimara, Aymar aru

Autonym

Aymar

Population

998,000 in Bolivia (2014 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 1,464,100.

Location

La Paz, Oruro, and Potosí departments: west of eastern Andes.

Language Maps

Peru

Argentina and Chile

Bolivia

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification

Aymaran, Aymara

Dialects

Chilean Aymara is very similar to La Paz, Bolivia dialect. A member of macrolanguage Aymara [aym].

Typology

SOV; noun head final; case-marking (6 cases); verb affixes mark person, number; tense; comparatives; 26 consonant and 6 vowel phonemes; non-tonal; stress on penultimate syllable.

Language Use

In spite of large user population considered potentially endangered due to lack of intergenerational transmission of the language (Crevels 2007). Some young people, all adults. Used as L2 by Chipaya [cap], North Bolivian Quechua [qul].

Language Development

Churches active in literacy. Government schools open to use of Aymara literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1987–2012.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Aymara, Central

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Some migration to valleys and lowlands. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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Chile

Language nameAymara, Central

Population Full

19,000 in Chile (Fabre 2007). Ethnic population: 48,500 (2002). About half have some knowledge of the language (Crevels 2007).

Location

Antofagasta, Arica and Parinacota, and Tarapacá regions: Iquique area, extreme north mountains.

Alternate Names

Aimara

Status

6b* (Threatened). Recognized language (1993, Indigenous Peoples Law (No. 19.253)), Bilingual education programs in highland areas.

Language Use

Due to acculturation, the language is especially being lost at a rapid pace in coastal areas and the valleys. Fewer than one-third transmit the language to their children (Crevels 2007). Also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Bilingual education is being implemented in some schools in the highland.

Other Comments

Only one-third of the Aymaras still live in the rural communities of their traditional homeland; most now live in the urban areas (Fabre 2007).

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Peru

Language nameAymara, Central

Population Full

443,000 in Peru (2007 census). Ethnic population: 443,000 (2007 census).

Location

Moquegua, Puno, and Tacna regions: Lake Titicaca area.

Alternate Names

Aimara, Aymara

Dialects

Lupaca is the main literary dialect.

Status

5 (Developing). Recognized language (1993, Constitution, Article 48).

Language Use

In spite of many speakers, considered potentially endangered due to lack of intergenerational transmission of the language (Crevels 2007). Used by all.

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Ethnologue

Aymara, Central

Primary tabs

A language of Bolivia

Also spoken in:

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