Languages of Peru: which one is public? What language is spoken in Peru?

Every once in my life I heard about a distant and mysterious country, where once the powerful civilizations of the Incas, Aztecs and Mayas lived. Peru is one of the largest states in Latin America. By its size, this country is second only to two states - Brazil and Argentina. The common religion in Peru is Roman Catholicism. The capital is Lima. The population is about 32 million people. The main languages are Spanish, Quechua, Aymara. Sometimes English is also used.

Journey to the Inca country: what language should I know?

But what is the official language in Peru - Aymara, Quechua or Spanish? State languages are the last two - Quechua and Spanish. The Aymara language is common only in the area of Lake Titicaca. Most of the inhabitants of Peru do not speak European foreign languages. Therefore, for those who plan a trip to this ancient country, it is good to know at least the basics of the Spanish language. Or take with you a pocket Russian-Spanish phrase book.

Spanish to Peru

The Spanish conquests in the past largely influenced the development of the country. In particular, on what language in Peru prevails now. Its spread began in the XV century. In Latin America, Spanish is different from European. Firstly, from the traditional one it is distinguished by pronunciation. The Spanish language in Peru is similar to the Andalusian accent of the official Spanish. This is due to the fact that the inhabitants of Andalusia accounted for about 60% of the total number of Spanish immigrants who settled in South America after its conquest.

Archaisms from Spanish

Many of the words that are now used by Peruvians in modern Spanish are considered obsolete. For example, the word pollera (in the translation "women's skirt") is now considered archaic. In modern Spanish, Peru is still in the process. Another distinguishing feature of the Spanish in Peru is the large number of words-Americanisms. Also, the local Spanish is saturated with native vocabulary. These words, preserved from local linguistic groups, are usually called "indyhenizmami." Examples are hamaka (hammock), maiz (corn), tabaco (tobacco), tocayo (namesake), papa (potato).

In fact, the Spanish language in Peru spread after Columbus discovered the New World. From this time began the colonization of local territories, the driving force of which was the thirst for profit of the conquerors. In order to master the new continent as soon as possible, the Spanish king constantly financed new expeditions. After the conquest, Peru became known as New Castile.

Languages of the Quechua group

Along with Spanish, Peru also adopted the Quechua language. In other countries it is also common - Quechua is spoken in Bolivia, Argentina, Chile and other countries. The total number of speakers of this language in South America is about 8 million. This state language of Peru was once native to the Aborigines - before the South American lands were captured by the Spanish conquistadors. In fact, Quechua is a group of several languages. According to different criteria, linguists are distinguished from 2 to 4 dialects.

In order to send mail to the territory of the empire, the Incas used a special system of writing with the help of nodules. It was called "kipu". The contents of the letter could be understood by the interweaving of ropes, their color and the number of nodules. In 1560, for the first time, a Quechua dictionary was composed - the primordial language of the country of Peru. The author of the dictionary was Domingo de Santo Thomas. In the Quechua language, church hymns and the foundations of the language were also written. It is believed that the Quechua languages are most closely related to the dialect of the Aymara. Some linguists unite them into two large families - ketchumara. Others suggest that the similarities of these two languages are due to their territorial proximity.

Historically, the Inca language was a means of national self-awareness for the inhabitants of the Andes, and for the Spanish conquerors it was a means of communicating with the local population. Now Quechua is a well-studied and documented language. It has orthographic norms and is taught at school. From the ancient language of Peru, some borrowings were also transferred to the Russian language: for example, the words "coca" (evergreen shrub in the Andes), "puma", "lama".

Quechua

The same name has also a local tribe living in a vast territory. Now representatives of the Quechua people live in such countries: Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile and the north-western territory of Argentina. The writing of this people is based on the Latin alphabet. The Quechua people are carriers of a unique high culture. Their main occupations are agriculture, spinning, weaving, making jewelry, wood carving, and cattle breeding. Interestingly, Quechua, living in valleys, usually build houses not far from each other. The inhabitants of the mountains live apart. Most Quechua walk barefoot, only occasionally putting on sandals.

Belief of an amazing people

Among the representatives of Quechua, one can still meet those who are engaged in shamanism and paganism. Indians are very friendly to tourists. They can make a talisman or a love potion. However, they are somewhat suspicious of the full people. One should not take offense at this - among Quechua one unusual belief is accepted. Indians believe in the existence of a spirit called a liqikiri. This otherworldly creature, they believe, attacks people during sleep and sucks from their bodies subcutaneous fat. The more complete a person is, the more likely that the liqikiri will attack him. Therefore, when Quechua is greeted by an obese person, they fear that near him there may be a liikichiri. However, they can also worry in a society of strangers with a normal physique - suddenly, under their appearance, is also hidden a terrible werewolf?

These beliefs inspire a lot of fear of the Inca heirs: they try not to stay at home alone and carefully close the windows. In order not to attract evil spirits, representatives of this people try not to overeat and watch the weight. Kitchen Quechua is exotic. For example, they prepare dishes from guinea pigs - those same pets, familiar to us. Not every tourist agrees to try it.

Quechua can treat other dishes. But with all their hospitality, they will observe if their guest is not overeating. Therefore, no matter how tasty it is, the tourists should not overeat in the company of Indians.

A bit about the Inca state

The Inca people began their formation around the 11th century in the Andes. The Incas were able to build the most influential empire in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Their main occupation was the management of subsistence economy. The first Europeans were surprised by the wealth of this great empire. More and more spread rumors that the territory of the state is unusually rich city Eldorado. Because of this, the Europeans moved here, driven by a thirst for profit.

Of great importance in the life of the Incas was religion. Different beliefs were adopted in various areas of the state. It is known that the Incas worshiped totems. And also extremely widespread was the cult of ancestors. It was believed that those who have gone to the next world can influence the yield, and also contribute to success. The Incas built their dwellings from various rock types - basalt, limestone, and also diorite. The houses of the Incas were modest, they did not have furnaces.

Aimar's language

What language is spoken in Peru in addition to Spanish and Quechua? Another name for the family of Aymaran languages is khaki. In total, the Aymara languages include 7 dialects, which some scholars also consider as separate languages. The Aymara language is most similar to the Bolivian dialect of Quechua and Cusco-Quechua. About 2 million people are native speakers of the language. Also this adverb is considered official in Bolivia. Among the carriers is very common possession of two and three languages: Aymara, Quechua and Spanish.

Aimar's people: peculiarities of the world view

Aymara is not only the name of the language. This is the name of the people who also live in the Andes. Representatives of the people also inhabit the western part of Bolivia, the northern regions of Chile, southern Peru. Traditional activities of the Aymara tribe are agriculture, metallurgy, boat making, and the cultivation of a coca plant.

Among representatives of the Aymara people, a very unusual concept of time perception has been adopted. Western man has a habitual projection - it assumes that the future is located ahead, and the past, respectively - behind. However, in the unusual Aymara language, everything is the opposite. The word that denotes the past is also used to indicate the position "in front". The proof of this concept is also the gesticulation of local residents - in particular, the elderly people. However, many of the modern Hispanic Aymara use the usual Western notions. This indicates a reorientation of the way young Aymara representatives think.