In this article, we will explore and analyze in depth Kunza language, a topic that has captured the attention of people from different backgrounds and interests. With the intention of providing a complete and enlightening vision, we will address different aspects related to Kunza language, from its origin and evolution to its impact on current society. Through a multidisciplinary approach, we will examine its relevance in various contexts and how it has shaped the way we perceive and understand the world around us. Likewise, we will give a voice to experts and protagonists in the field, whose experiences and knowledge will enrich the understanding of Kunza language and its meaning today.
| Kunza | |
|---|---|
| Atacameño | |
| Likanantaí | |
| Native to | Chile, Peru, Bolivia |
| Region | Atacama Desert |
| Ethnicity | Atacama |
| Extinct | ca. 1950s |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | kuz |
| Glottolog | kunz1244 |
Kunza is an extinct language isolate once spoken in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile and southern Peru by the Atacama people, who have since shifted to Spanish. The last speaker was documented in 1949.
Other names and spellings include Cunza, Likanantaí, Lipe, Ulipe, and Atacameño.
The language was spoken in northern Chile, specifically in the Chilean villages of Peine, Socaire (near the Salar de Atacama), and Caspana, and in southern Peru.
The last Kunza speaker was found in 1949, although some have been found since according to anthropologists.[clarification needed] There are 2,000 Atacameños (W. Adelaar).
Unattested varieties listed by Loukotka (1968):
A revitalization effort was initiated in the 21st century.
Kaufman (1990) found a proposed connection between Kunza and the likewise unclassified Kapixaná to be plausible; however, the language was more fully described in 2004, and the general consensus among linguists was that both languages are isolates.[citation needed]
Jolkesky (2016) notes that there are lexical similarities with the Mochika, Kandoshi, Jaqi, Kechua, Mapudungun, and Uru-Chipaya language families due to contact.
| Bilabial | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Uvular | Glottal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| plain | sibilant | |||||||
| Nasal | m | n | ||||||
| Stop/ Affricate |
voiceless | p | t | t͡s | t͡ʃ | k | q | ʔ |
| ejective | pʼ | tʼ | t͡ʃʼ | kʼ | qʼ | |||
| Fricative | voiceless | ɬ | s | x | χ | h | ||
| voiced | β | ɣ | ||||||
| Approximant | l | j | w | |||||
| Trill | r | |||||||
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close | i iː | u uː | |
| Mid | e eː | (ə) | o oː |
| Open | a aː |