Iquito

Facts

  • Language: Iquito
  • Alternate names: Iquita, Ikito, Amacacore, Hamacore, Quiturran, Puca-Uma, Ikitu
  • Language code: iqu
  • Language family: Zaparoan, Iquito-Cahuarano (SIL classification)
  • Number of speakers: 12-15
  • Vulnerability: Endangered
  • Script: Latin script.

More information:

    In 1958–1966 there were 100 speakers on the verge of extinction and acculturation to Spanish-speaking society. Children understood but did not speak, adults were bilingual with Spanish, older people understood Spanish, but only spoke Iquito. Speakers died from measles, whooping cough, and pneumonia. The rubber boom and landowner (patron) system had devastating effects. Christian.

    Kaufman (2007:69) has Iquito-Cahuarano as a single language; others have the 2 as separate languages.