Asháninka language


Asháninka is an Arawakan language spoken by the Asháninka people of Peru and Acre, Brazil. There are low literacy rates in Asháninka; despite this, language use is vibrant among the Asháninka.

Classification

The Campa group of the Maipurean language family includes what have been called Asháninka, Gran Pajonal Campa, Ashéninka, Axaninca, Machiguenga, and Nomatsiguenga. As these are all very closely related linguistic systems, the decision to call them dialects of a single language or different languages rests on social and political considerations rather than linguistic similarity or difference, as in so many other places in the world. Attempts to unify the varieties with one written standard have not been successful.

History

The language has also been called both Asháninka and Campa; the latter of which is considered by the Asháninka to be offensive, as it derives from the Quechua word thampa, meaning ragged and dirty. Like all languages that have a predominance in any particular region of Perú, Asháninka is an official language in the area in which it is spoken, as provided by the Constitution. Literacy rates range from 10% to 30%, compared to 15% to 25% literacy for the second language, Spanish.

Phonology

Consonants

Following voiced nasals, voiceless plosives become voiced. Preceding an vowel, a sound becomes labialized as . A labial sound is formed when two vowels /oa/ are together.

Vowels

Language basics and comparisons

EnglishSpanishAsháninka
OneUnoAparo
TwoDosApite
ThreeTresMaava
ManHombreShirampari
WomanMujerTsinane
DogPerroOtsiti
SunSolPoreatsiri
MoonLunaCashiri
WaterAguaNija

Threats

This language can be categorized as vulnerable for a multitude of reasons. South America has been a target for logging and other deforestation efforts, that are oftentimes illegal. Those that speak Asháninka call the historically dense rainforests of Peru and Brazil their home, and live off this land. This habitat, specially in the Peruvian side, faces a moderate threat from logging and other destructive practices by outside forces.