Languages of Bolivia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The languages of Bolivia include Spanish, at least 30 indigenous languages, most prominently Quechua, Aymara, and Tupi Guaran, and other languages such as Plautdietsch spoken by descendants of immigrants. All of the indigenous languages and Spanish are official languages of the state according to the 2009 Constitution. Spanish and Quechua are spoken primarily in the Andes region; Aymara is mainly spoken in the Altiplano around Lake Titicaca, and Guarani in the southeast on the border with Paraguay.

List of languages
All of the following languages are spoken in Bolivia:

Araona Aymara

Ayoreo Baure

Central Aymara

Callahuaya/Callawalla/Kallawaya Canichana Cavinea Cayubaba Chiquitano Guaran

Iapari Itonama Leco

Eastern Bolivian Guaran

Machiguenga Movima Moxos Pacahuara Plautdietsch Puquina language Quechua variants

Ayacucho Quechua Qusqu-Qullaw South Bolivian Quechua Southern Quechua

Reyesano Saraveca Sirion Spanish. See also Bolivian Spanish Tacana Tapiet Toromona Uru-Chipaya: See Chipaya, Uru Western Argentine Guaran Wich Lhamts Nocten Wich Lhamts Vejoz Yaminawa Yuracar

Demographics
Language people Quechua 2,281,198 Aymara 1,525,321 Guaran 62,575 Another native 49,432 Spanish 6,821,626 Foreign 250,754 Only native 960,491 Native and Spanish 2,739,407 Spanish and foreign 4,115,751 Only Spanish 4,082,219 All native 3,918,526 percent 25.08 % 16.77 % 0.69 % 0.54 % 75.01 % 2.76 % 10.56 % 30.12 % 45.25 % 44.89 % 43.09 %

Official status
The 2009 Constitution specifies the following languages as official: Castillian Spanish, Aymara, Araona, Baure, Bsiro (Chiquitano), Canichana, Cavineo, Cayubaba, Chcobo, Chimn, Ese Ejja, Guaran, Guarasuwe, Guarayu, Itonama, Leco, Machajuyaikallawaya (Kallawaya), Machineri (Machiguenga), Maropa, Mojeo-Trinitario, Mojeo-Ignaciano, Mor, Mosetn (Tsimane'), Movima, Pacawara (Pacahuara), Puquina, Quechua, Sirion, Tacana, Tapiete, Toromona, Uru-Chipaya, Weenhayek (Wich Lhamts Nocten, Wich Lhamts Vejoz), Yaminawa, Yuki, Yuracar and Zamuco (Ayoreo). The Bolivian government and the departmental governments are also required to use at least two languages in their operation, while smaller-scale autonomous governments must also use two, including Spanish.[1] Following the National Education Reform of 1994, all thirty indigenous languages were introduced alongside Spanish in the country's schools.[2] However, many schools did not implement the reforms, especially urban schools.

Languages of Bolivia
See language map. [See also SIL publications on the languages of Bolivia.] Republic of Bolivia, Repblica de Bolivia. 9,182,000. National or official languages: Spanish, North Bolivian Quechua, South Bolivian Quechua, Central Aymara. Literacy rate: 63%81%. Immigrant languages: American Sign Language, Corsican (60,000), Standard German (160,000), Wich Lhamts Vejoz. Information mainly from SIL 19562003. Blind population: 1,070. Deaf population: 46,800. Deaf institutions: 9 or more. The number of individual languages listed for Bolivia is 45. Of those, 37 are living languages, 1 is a second language without mother-tongue speakers, and 7 have no known speakers.
Araona [aro] 81 (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 90 (Adelaar 2000). Northwest, headwaters of Manupari River. Alternate names:Cavina. Classification: Tacanan, AraonaTacana, Araona More information. [aym] A macrolanguage. Population total all countries: 2,446,642. More information. [ayr] 1,790,000 in Bolivia (1987). Population total all countries: 2,262,900. Whole Altiplano west of eastern Andes. Some migration to yungas and lowlands. Also in Argentina, Chile, Peru. Dialects: Chilean Aymara is very similar to La Paz, Bolivia dialect. Classification:Aymaran More information. [ayo] 770 in Bolivia (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 856 in Bolivia (Adelaar 2000). Gran Chaco region, Department of Santa Cruz.Alternate names: Ayor, Moro, Morotoco, Pyeta, Yovai. Dialects:Tsiricua. Classification: Zamucoan More information. [brg] 13 (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 631 (Adelaar 2000). Beni Department, northwest of

Aymara Aymara, Central

Ayoreo

Baure

Bolivian Sign Language

Callawalla

Canichana

Cavinea

Cayubaba

Chcobo

Chipaya

Magdalena. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Bolivia-Parana Nearly extinct. More information. [bvl] 350 to 400 (1988 E. Powlison). Cochabamba, La Paz, Riberalta, Santa Cruz. Dialects: Based on American Sign Language [ase] with necessary changes for borrowed Spanish lexical items. Some groups in La Paz and Santa Cruz use the same signs with some dialect signs from their own areas. Morgan (2004) gives evidence that Bolivian Sign Language is no more divergent from ASL [ase] than some dialects of ASL. Classification: Deaf sign language More information. [caw] 10 or 20 speakers (1995 SIL). Highlands and high valleys, east Andes north of La Paz, Charazani area north of Lake Titicaca.Alternate names: Callahuaya. Dialects: Seems to have Quechua affixes and syntactic patterns, but distinctive roots from a dialect of the extinct Puquina language. Classification: Mixed language, QuechuaPuquina More information. [caz] No known speakers. Ethnic population: 583 (Adelaar 2000). Lowlands. Alternate names: Kanichana. Dialects: Said to be of the Tucanoan family. Classification: Language isolate More information. [cav] 1,180 (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 1,736 (Adelaar 2000). North Bolivia, southeast of Riberalta, along Beni River; east of the Beni; 500 in Pando west of the Beni. Classification: Tacanan, Araona-Tacana, Cavinena-Tacana, Cavinena More information. [cyb] No known speakers. Ethnic population: 794 (Adelaar 2000). Beni Department, west of Mamore River, north of Santa Ana.Alternate names: Cayuvava, Cayuwaba. Dialects: Ruhlen (1991) and others classify it as Equatorial. Classification: Language isolate More information. [cao] 550 (2000 SIL). Ethnic population: 860 (2000 SIL). Northwest Beni, south of Riberaltaon, Alto Ivon River. Classification: Panoan, Southern More information. [cap] 1,200 (1995), increasing. Ethnic population:

1,800. Department of Oruro, Province of Atahuallpa. Alternate names: Puquina. Dialects:May be Arawakan or distantly related to Mayan. Classification: Uru-Chipaya More information. Chiquitano [cax] 5,860 (Adelaar 2000). ISA (2000) lists 2,000 in Brazil. Ethnic population: 47,086 (Adelaar 2000). East Santa Cruz, east region.Alternate names: Chiquito, Tarapecosi. Dialects: Concepcin, San Ignacio de Velazco, San Javier (Javierano, Xavierano), Santiago, San Miguel. Classification: Macro-Ge, Chiquito More information. Chorote, Iyowujwa [crq] 8 in Bolivia (1982). Southeast, Tarija Department. Alternate names: Choroti, Manjui, Manjuy. Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco More information. Ese Ejja [ese] 1,300 in Bolivia (2000 SIL). Population total all countries: 1,770. Ethnic population: 1,300 in Bolivia (2000 SIL). Northwestern region; into foothills on Beni and Madre de Dios rivers; Tambopata and Heath rivers around Puerto Maldonado in Peru. Also in Peru. Alternate names: Chama , Ese Eja, Ese Exa, Huarayo, Tiatinagua. Dialects:Each clan has slight dialect differences; all seem inherently intelligible. Most divergent Tacanan language. Tambopata dialect in Peru somewhat different from the Bolivian dialect. Classification: Tacanan, Tiatinagua More information. Guaran, Eastern [gui] 33,700 in Bolivia (Adelaar 2000). Population total Bolivian all countries: 51,230. Ethnic population: 36,917 in Bolivia (Adelaar 2000). South central Parapeti River area, Tarija. Also in Argentina, Paraguay.Alternate names: Chawuncu , Chiriguano , Western Argentine Guaran. Dialects: Izoceo (Izocenio), Ava. Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I More information. Guaran, Western [gnw] 7,000. Chuquisaca Department, south to Bolivian Pilcomayo River, east to Cuevo, north to Monte Agudo. Alternate names: Simba, Simba Guaran. Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup I More information. Guarayu [gyr] 5,930 (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 7,235 (Adelaar 2000). Northeast Guarayos River area. Alternate names: Guarayo. Classification: Tupi,

Ignaciano

Itene

Itonama

Jor

Leco

Machinere

Movima

Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup II More information. [ign] 4,500 (2000 SIL). Ethnic population: 20,805 with Trinitario (2000 W. Adelaar). South central Beni. Dialects: Limited comprehension of Trinitario [trn], similar to Spanish and Portuguese, with vowel reduction. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Bolivia-Parana More information. [ite] No known speakers. Ethnic population: 108 (Adelaar 2000). North central Beni Department at junction of Mamor and Itenez rivers.Alternate names: Iteneo, Itenez, More. Dialects: Itoreauhip. Classification: ChapacuraWanham, Guapore More information. [ito] 10 (2000 Crevels). Ethnic population: 5,090 (Adelaar 2000). Beni Department and Itonamas River. Alternate names: Machoto, Saramo. Dialects: Ruhlen classifies it as Paezan. Classification: Language isolate Nearly extinct. More information. [jor] Extinct. Alternate names: Hora. Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Guarayu-Siriono-Jora II More information. [lec] 20 (2001 S. van de Kerke). Ethnic population: 80 (Adelaar 2000). Lake Titicaca east; Apolo area; scattered on Mapiri-Kaka River in Karura, Candelaria, Tutilimundi and Uyapi; Coroico River in Trapichiponte in KeleKelera. Alternate names: Leko, Rika. Classification: Language isolate Nearly extinct. More information. [mpd] 140 in Bolivia (1994). Ethnic population: 155 in Bolivia. Acre River. Alternate names: Manchinere, Manchineri, Manitenre, Manitener, Maxinri. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Purus More information. [mzp] 1,450 (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 6,528 (Adelaar 2000). Central Beni Department, Santa Ana area on Yacuma River.Dialects: Reportedly Tucanoan. Classification: Language isolate More information.

Pacahuara

Pauserna

Plautdietsch

Quechua, North Bolivian

Quechua, South Bolivian

Reyesano

Saraveca Shinabo Sirion

[pcp] 17 (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 18 (Adelaar 2000). Northwest Beni. Alternate names: Pacawara. Classification:Panoan, Southern Nearly extinct. More information. [psm] No known speakers. Ethnic population: 46 (Adelaar 2000). Southeast Beni on Guapore River. Alternate names: Guarayu-Ta, Paucerne, Pauserna-Guarasugw. Classification: Tupi, TupiGuarani, Pauserna More information. [pdt] 28,600 in Bolivia. Alternate names: German, Mennonite German. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon More information. [qul] 116,000 in Bolivia (1978 census), increasing. 18,452 monolinguals. Apolo region, La Paz Department. Also in Peru.Alternate names: North La Paz Quechua. Dialects: Apolo, Charazani, Chuma. Classification: Quechuan, Quechua II, C More information. [quh] 2,780,000 in Bolivia (1987). Population total all countries: 3,635,000. Highland and lowland except around Apolo; Northwest Jujuy Quechua in Argentina. Also in Argentina. Alternate names:Central Bolivian Quechua, Quechua Boliviano. Dialects: Sucre, Cochabamba, Oruro, Potos, Chuquisaca, Northwest Jujuy. May be intelligible with Chilean Quechua [cqu]. Classification: Quechuan, Quechua II, C More information. [rey] 4,600 (2006). Possibly a few speakers (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 4,118 (Adelaar 2000). Beni Department, west central around San Borja, near Reyes. Alternate names: San Borjano. Classification: Tacanan, Araona-Tacana, Cavinena-Tacana, Tacana Proper More information. [sar] Extinct. Eastern jungle. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Central Maipuran More information. [snh] Extinct. Classification: Panoan, Southern More information. [srq] 400 (Adelaar 2000), increasing. 50 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 419 (Adelaar 2000) to over 600

Spanish

Tacana

Tapiet

Toba

Toromono

Trinitario

Tsiman

(2000 P. Priest). Eastern Beni and northwestern Santa Cruz Departments, Ibiato (Eviato) village; along the Ro Blanco in farms and ranches. Alternate names:Mbia Chee, Mbya. Dialects: Similar to Yuqui [yuq]. Classification:Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Subgroup II More information. [spa] 3,480,000 in Bolivia (1995). Dialects: AfroYungueo (Black Spanish). Classification: IndoEuropean, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian More information. [tna] 1,820 (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 5,058 (Adelaar 2000). Beni and Madre de Dios rivers, jungle, some in foothills.Alternate names: Takana. Classification: Tacanan, AraonaTacana, Cavinena-Tacana, Tacana Proper More information. [tpj] 70 in Bolivia (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 74 in Bolivia (Adelaar 2000). Southeast, Samayhuate and Cutaiqui towns.Alternate names: Guasurango, anagua, Tirumbae, Yanaigua. Classification: Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, Guarani I More information. [tob] 100 in Bolivia. Alternate names: Qom. Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Guaicuruan More information. [tno] 200 (1983 Varese). Ethnic population: 200 (Adelaar 2000). Northwest, close to the Araona, between the upper Madidi and River Heath. Alternate names: Toromona. Classification: Tacanan, AraonaTacana, Cavinena-Tacana, Tacana Proper More information. [trn] 5,500 (2000 SIL). Ethnic population: 20,805 with Ignaciano (Adelaar 2000). South central Beni. Alternate names: Mojos, Moxos. Dialects: Loreto (Loretano), Javierano. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Southern Maipuran, Bolivia-Parana More information. [cas] 5,320 (Adelaar 2000). Includes 585 Moseten speakers. Ethnic population: 5,907. Southwest Beni Department and along Maniqui River; San Miguel de Huachi and Santa Ana de Alto Beni. Alternate names: Chiman, Mosetn. Dialects: Tsiman, Mosetn. Mosetn move into Tsiman communities

Uru

Wich Lhamts Nocten

Yaminahua

Yuqui

Yuracare

and function with seemingly no communication difficulties (2002 NTM). Classification: Language isolate More information. [ure] 2 (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 142 (Adelaar 2000). Department of Oruro, Province of Atahuallpa, near Lake Titicaca, near where the Desaguadero River comes out of Titicaca, near Iruitu. Alternate names: Iru-Itu, Morato, Muratu. Classification:Uru-Chipaya Nearly extinct. More information. [mtp] 1,810 in Bolivia (1994). Population total all countries: 1,910. Ethnic population: 2,081 (1994). North central Tarija Department, southwest of Pilcomayo River, Cordillera de Pirapo. Also in Argentina.Alternate names: Mataco , Bolivian, Mataco Nocten , Nocten, Noctenes, Oktenai, Weenhayek. Classification: Mataco-Guaicuru, Mataco More information. [yaa] 140 in Bolivia (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 161 in Bolivia (Adelaar 2000). Northwest corner Pando Department. Alternate names: Jaminawa, Yamanawa, Yaminawa. Classification: Panoan, South-Central, Yaminahua-Sharanahua More information. [yuq] 120 (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 138 (Adelaar 2000). Foothills north of Cochabamba; Chimor River. Alternate names: Bia, Yuki. Dialects: Similar to Sirion [srq]. Classification:Tupi, Tupi-Guarani, GuarayuSiriono-Jora II More information. [yuz] 2,680 (Adelaar 2000). Ethnic population: 3,333 (Adelaar 2000). Beni and Cochabamba departments, primarily along Chapare River. Alternate names: Yura. Dialects: Mansinyo, Soloto. Classification: Language isolate More information.