Cofán

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A language of Ecuador

ISO 639-3
con
Alternate Names
A’i, A’ingae, Kofán, Kofane
Population

1,080 in Ecuador (2012 UNSD), increasing. Many monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,500. Total users in all countries: 2,580.

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 Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Language isolate
Typology

SOV.

Language Use

Vigorous. Some Siona and Secoya have learned Cofán due to intermarriage, and their children learn Cofán. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Napo Quichua [qvo], Secoya [sey], Siona [snn], Spanish [spa].

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. Radio programs. Dictionary. NT: 1980–2007.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Cofán
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

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.

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