50 Examples of Linguistic Varieties in Peru

Linguistic Varieties in Peru

A linguistic variety or modality is a specific form that acquires a tongue natural or language, which depends on the geographical context, Social and age of its speakers. The dialects are the regional varieties or modalities in which a language is presented.

At present, linguistic varieties in Peru They are estimated at around fifty vernacular languages, which makes it one of the countries with the greatest linguistic diversity in the world. The vast majority of these languages ​​are indigenous, although the most widespread is Spanish, spoken by more than 85.9% of the population. This is followed by Quechua, with 13.2%; the Aymara, with 1.8%; and the rest is made up of Amazonian languages ​​and sign language.

In the urban areas of the country, especially in the coastal region, Spanish monolingualism predominates; while in some rural areas of the country, particularly in the Amazon, multilingual populations prevail, that is, they speak more than one language.

Original or indigenous languages ​​of Peru

According to official figures from the Peruvian government, the number of indigenous or native languages ​​is forty-seven, and they are divided into:

Andean

Quechua

Quechua is the second most widely spoken language in the country and has official status where it is predominant. From the linguistic point of view, it must be understood as a family of related languages ​​(or macrolanguage), from which more than twenty-five can be distinguished varieties. The four main groups are: Quechua I, Quechua IIA, Quechua IIB, and Quechua IIC.

1. Chawar: crude.
2. Éka: how many?
3. Chúrar: save, put.
4. Ichik: little boy.
5. Íkar: cut into small pieces, chop.
6. Illa: light.
7. Chíqeq: enemy.
8. Ampi: dark, night.
9. Ari: Yes.
10. Chíki: hatred, selfishness.

Aymara

Aymara is the third most widely spoken language in Peru. It currently predominates in the south of the country, in the departments of Puno, Moquegua and Tacna.

Examples of Aymara words

1. Alaña: to buy.
2. Chhaxraña: comb.
3. Ikiña: to sleep.
4. Jakaña: to live.
5. Jaxsaña: afraid.
6. Munaña: want.
7. Qatana: drag.
8. Fury: tell.
9. Kimsa: three.
10. Tunka: ten.

Spanish language of Peru

Peruvian Spanish is the Castilian language used in the Republic of Peru as one of its official languages. This is made up of four dialects in its territory:

• Andean Spanish. Employed in the mountains, but also in the city of Lima due to migration to the capital. Its main characteristics are:
  • It has intermediate vowels, that is, they have vowel sounds between the letters E-I and between O-U.
  • The S has a louder sound.
  • It also preserves the LL sound.
  • It is loist, that is, it substitutes the pronoun you by it in prayers
  • Use the diminutives very often.
  • The past compound is replaced by the past simple and the Subjunctive mode is replaced by the indicative in the sentences subordinate.
  • Double the possessive and objects.
  • Regarding the use of articles, they sometimes dispense with them and sometimes abuse them.
  • The verbs they are usually placed at the end of the sentence.
  • He usually uses the fillers “no more" and "then”, Located behind the verb.

• Peruvian riparian or limeño Spanish. Spoken by adult people of Lima descent or long-term in the capital or on the coast (and with little contact with the migrant social group). It is currently the basis of "normative" Peruvian Spanish, although it is only spoken by 15% of the population. Its main characteristics are:
  • The s is aspirated when in a final position and goes in front of a consonant, the same does not happen when it is placed in front of a vowel or a pause.
  • Convert the final D of the words into T.
  • Its pace is slower than that of standard Spanish.
  • In spoken language there is a tendency to omit some prepositions.

• Amazon Spanish. It was developed especially in contact with the Andean and Lima Spanish with the Amazonian languages, without these having much influence. It has a distinctive tonal structure. Its main characteristics are:
  • The S is not aspirated.
  • There is confusion when pronouncing the letter J, which in most cases is replaced by the F pronounced bilabially.
  • The phonemes P, T and K have a small aspiration.
  • There is a change of order in the structure of the sentence.

• Equatorial Spanish. Also called Colombian-Ecuadorian Chocoano or Costeño, it includes parts of the northern coast of Peru. This dialect is typical of the particular speech of the so-called Afro-Peruvians and mestizos of the north coast in what are now the departments of Lambayeque, Piura and Tumbes. Its main characteristics are:
  • The S.
  • There is confusion between the L and the R, which, on many occasions, are interchanged.

Examples of words in Peruvian Spanish

1. Whereabouts: bus stop.
2. Hookah: college freshman student.
3. Work: job.
4. Fundito: inheritance or rustic farm.
5. Jacket: jacket.
6. Sayonaras: flat sandals that are fastened with two straps joined at the center towards the sides.
7. Choro: thief.
8. Pituco: wealthy person.
9. Roche: shame.
10. Otorongo: corrupt.
11. Huarique: little known restaurant, but with good food.
12. Chingana: low-level, low-quality place.
13. Salsodrome: place or disco where only salsa is danced.
14. Girl: maid, housewife.
15. Guachiman: of English watchman, watchful, guardian.
16. Heels: heeled shoes.
17. Sweater: sweater or sweater.
18. pole: T shirt.
19. Jatar: to sleep.
20. Midden: place where the garbage of the houses is thrown.

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