Cofán
PrintPrimary tabs
A language of Ecuador
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
A’i, Kofane, Kofán
Autonym
A’ingae
Population
640 in Ecuador (Crevels 2012), increasing. Many monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,080 (2012 UNSD). Total users in all countries: 1,020.
Location
Napo province: near Santa Rosa de Sucumbíos, and down Aguarico river 130 km; Sucumbíos province; 5 main centers in Colombia and Ecuador border areas.
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Typology
SOV.
Language Use
Vigorous. Some Siona and Secoya have learned Cofán due to intermarriage, and their children learn Cofán. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Napo Quichua [qvo], Secoya [sey], Siona [snn]. Also use Spanish [spa], which is the language of instruction in school, except for early grades which provide bilingual education.
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. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. NT: 1980–2007.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Variously classified as Chibchan with Western Tucanoan features (Ferndon, Borman), Barbacoan (J. Mason), or - erroneously - as Jivaroan (Ruhlen 1987). Some Witotoan influences. Traditional religion, Christian.