Qawasqar
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A language of Chile
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Alacalouf, Alacaluf, Alacalufe, Alaculoof, Alaculuf, Alakaluf, Alikaluf, Alikhoolip, Alikuluf, Alilkoolif, Alokolup, Alooculoof, Alookooloop, Alucaluf, Alukoeluf, Alukulup, Halakwulup, Kaweskar, Kawesqar
Population
12 (2006 O. Aguilera). 10 in Puerto Edén. Ethnic population: 2,620 (2002 census).
Location
Magallanes y Antártica Chilena region: West Patagonia, Channel area, Isle of Wellington off south Chilean coast, 49 degrees south. Center is Puerto Edén.
Language Maps
Language Status
8b (Nearly extinct). Recognized language (1993, (Indigenous Peoples) Law No. 19.253).
Classification
Dialects
Aksanás (Aksana). Dialects are generally divided into three groups, northern, central and southern, of which only the northern is still spoken (Viegas Barros 1990).
Language Use
Most also use Spanish [spa] (Crevels 2007).
Language Development
Dictionary. Grammar. Texts.
Language Resources
Writing
Unwritten [Qaax].
Aksanás has been shown by Clairis to be a misinterpretation of old Qawasqar; it is a phantom (Campbell and Grondona 2012).