International Journal of Bilingual
Education and Bilingualism
Editor: Colin Baker, University of Wales, Bangor
Review Editor: Aneta Pavlenko, Temple University, Philadelpia
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Volume: 2 Number: 3 Page: 166–180
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Functional Domains of the Quechua Language in Peru: Issues of Status Planning
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Serafin M. Coronel-Molina
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Quechuaisan indigenous language of Peru that is slowly dying out as its speakers shift to Spanish, the dominant language. Such language shift is common in diglossic societies, and is strongly correlated with
the relative statuses of the languages involved. 'Language status' refers to the functional domains filled by a language within a society. Quechua has lost many of its functional domains to Spanish over
the course of the history of contact between the two languages. This paper presents a case study of the status of Quechua in Peruvian society and how it has affected language maintenance efforts. The current
functional domains served by Quechua are discussed, along with domains in which it has lost ground,and are then related to Peruvian language policies. Such policies have historically come more from formal
institutions rather than from organised grass-roots initiatives. Peru's indigenous people lack the degree of organisation developed by indigenous groups in other countries (e.g. Bolivia and Ecuador), so
Peru notably lacks extensive grass-roots efforts. The paper concludes by suggesting some possible measures that could be attempted to improve its status,and some predictions on the future of the Quechua
language based on the current status quo.
© Multilingual Matters 1998
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