Quechua is an indigenous language family of the Quechua peoples of South America and the language of the ancient Inca Empire. There are an estimated 7 million speakers, mainly in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, making it the most spoken indigenous language in the Americas. As a language family, Quechua is a group of several languages that while descendant from a single proto-language, are mutually unintelligible (similar to the Romance languages containing Spanish, Italian, and French). Quechua has an estimated 45 dialects divided amongst two main groups: Central and Peripheral. Central Quechua, or Quechua I, also known as Waywash, is spoken in the central highlands and central coast of Peru. Peripheral Quechua, or Quechua II, also known as Wanp’una, is found in the North (Northern Peru, Ecuador, Colombia) and the South (Bolivia, Southern Peru, Chile, and Argentina).
Although Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador have recognized Quechua as one of their official languages within the past few decades and although the language has about as many speakers as Hebrew, Quechua is largely unknown and the UNESCO has classified the language as endangered. Because of its lack of a writing system, Quechua is especially difficult to maintain and teach. Thus, the language survives mostly through spoken word.
University of Pennsylvania is one major educational center working hard to protect this diverse language family. As of now, Penn is the only Ivy League to offer Quechua language classes. These classes are offered through its Quechua Program, founded in 2014, which addresses not only the language but also Andean culture. This upcoming semester, Penn is offering two seminar courses, Elementary Quechua I and II. Both are taught by Dr. Américo Mendoza-Mori, who created the Quechua Program at Penn. The courses are offered in English and Quechua at a beginner level and open to students with little to no previous experience with the language.
But, why study Quechua, if it’s a “dying language”? Dr. Mendoza-Mori and the Quechua Program at Penn offer several valuable responses to such a question, many of which justify the study of the language precisely because of its endangerment. Dr. Mendoza-Mori notes that for many centuries “what the speakers said, thought, or did was considered second-class knowledge, or not as important actions in world history”. Such a program acknowledges the value of the language, and therefore recognizes the value of the culture and its individuals. The Quechua Program website notes quite powerfully that “we are also making a statement: This language has a value; therefore, their people do, too”.
The program provides students with several opportunities for professional development and research through learning the language. Former students have received Fullbrights and other fellowships. Others used their acquired knowledge to take part of medical missions to the Andes. Furthermore, the Quechua Program organizes many cultural learning opportunities outside the classroom, including the “Thinking Andean Studies” conference offered in the spring, and the Quechua Alliance Annual Meetings, a one-day gathering that takes place in the fall.
Penn will host its 4th Quechua Alliance Annual Meeting all day Saturday November 17th (10:00 am to 6:00 pm). Special guests include: hip-hop musician and Quechua activist, Liberato Kani, Mirian Masaquiza, a UN official for indigenous peoples and development, and Elva Ambía, founder of the Quechua Collective of New York. The event is free for all college students and members of the Penn community.
Penn’s Quechua Program is truly groundbreaking. Provided with the abundant resources and support of such an established university, the department will undoubtedly lead the way in modeling a transparent and respectful educational and institutional approach for the preservation of the rich Quechua language and culture.
Written by Catalina Ruiz
Comments