Puquina languages | |
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Geographic distribution | Around Lake Titicaca |
Extinct | early 19th century L2: 10-20 (Kallawaya) |
Linguistic classification | usually unclassified Macro-Arawakan? |
Subdivisions | |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | puq (Puquina proper only) |
Glottolog | puqu1242 (Puquina proper only) |
Puquina (proper) | |
---|---|
Pukina | |
Native to | Bolivia, Peru |
Region | Lake Titicaca |
Extinct | early 19th century |
Puquina
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | puq |
Glottolog | puqu1242 |
Pukina language distribution around 1600 CE, Pukina toponyms, and pre-Inca Pukina ethnicities. |
Puquina (or Pukina) is a small, putative language family, often portrayed as a language isolate, which consists of the extinct Puquina language and Kallawaya. It is assumed that the latter is just a remnant of the former mixed with Quechuan, Puquina speakers are last mentioned in the early nineteenth century.[3]
The Qhapaq simi, which was spoken by the Inca elite, in contrast to the Quechuan-speaking commoners, is thought to be related, as well as the Leco language, generally considered a language isolate. They are spoken by several native ethnic groups in the region surrounding Lake Titicaca (Peru and Bolivia) and in the north of Chile. Puquina itself is often associated with the culture that built Tiwanaku.