LINGUISTIC VARIETIES OF ECUADOR - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The linguistic varieties of Ecuador are eleven in total, in addition to Spanish as its official language. These linguistic varieties are evident in its diverse indigenous population, which despite the passing of the centuries and the influence of other nations, has managed to keep their ancestral languages ​​alive.

The language and its linguistic varieties are unique in each country, where the language feeds on itself and grows due to the characteristics of each region, the influence of nearby territories, foreign countries and the distance between peoples.

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In the case of Ecuador, the presence of a significant number of differentiated indigenous tribes in various regions throughout the country, allowed completely different languages ​​to be formed.

The Spanish conquest, in turn, added the foreign ingredient necessary to make Ecuador linguistically what it is today, so it is not surprising that there are even indigenous words created by the influence of Spanish.

Languages ​​spoken in Ecuador

The Ecuadorian constitution establishes a conceptual distinction by naming Castilian under the term "official language" and indigenous-speaking languages ​​as "ancestral languages."

The peoples who speak these ancestral languages ​​are considered indigenous nations.

These are distributed in three areas of Ecuador: Costa, Sierra and Amazonia. The names of these nations and the language they speak are listed below.

As can be seen, there are two nations and two Kichwa languages, that of the Sierra and that of the Amazon. There is still no consensus among linguists when it comes to spelling the names of languages.

That is why it may be the case that, for example, the Epera Pedede language is also found under official records such as Zia Pedee; or that the Wao Terero is also mentioned by the name of Wao Tedero or Wao Tededo. And so it is with most of the Ecuadorian indigenous languages

Other languages ​​spoken in Ecuador, although to a lesser extent, are English, French and Portuguese due to the presence of immigrants in the country.

Most influential ancestral languages

The popularity and penetration of Ecuadorian ancestral languages ​​is uneven. Some remain more strongly active in the collective that speaks them, while others are in danger of extinction.

Currently two of these languages ​​stand out in the group of ancestral languages, due to the number of people who still use them.

The Ecuadorian constitution indicates that Spanish is the official language, but in addition to this, it indicates that the Kichwa and Shuar languages are accepted as official languages ​​of intercultural relations.

The statute also indicates that the other ancestral languages ​​are of official use for indigenous peoples in the areas where they live and in the terms established by law.

Kichwa

The Kichwa has roots from the Quechua language and is used by 1.2 million people. The highest concentration of speakers of this language is found in the Chimborazo Highland region.

One of the reasons that helped preserve this language had to do with the interest in including it in the public education curriculum. This proposal was in talks and reforms since the 40s of the last century and today it is finally a fact.

Shuar

The other ancestral language, Shuar is spoken by 35,000 people who are located in the Amazon region. The language was exposed thanks to Catholic missionaries who carried out a public outreach project.

Currently, the ancestral Shuar language is also part of the public education curriculum.

Example of varieties

Below you can see some words from the two most predominant ancestral languages ​​and their translation into Spanish:

Kichwa:

Achik mama: Godmother

Ampana: Yawn

Añanku: Ant

Apamuna: Bring

Aparina: Load

Asina: Laugh

Bacha: Time

Chari: Cold

Churi: Son

Hampatu: Frog

Kalak: Weak

Kana: Being / Being

Kawchuna: Twist

Khuyana: Love

Kuchi: Pig

Kuntur: Condor

Kushma: Sack

Kuyka: Earthworm

Mama: Mother

Ñaupana: Advance

Shuar:

Aents: Person

Aka-íruni: Worms

Akankem: Chariot

Akáru: Shotgun

Apachich: Grandpa

Ayum: Rooster

Chinkími: Palm Tree

Chiú: Fruit of the field

Esékmatai: Blanket

Ete: Wasp

íjiu: Palm tree

Japimiuk: Broom

Jempe: Hummingbird

Katip: Mouse

Kinkiapatin: Celeste

Kúk: Pig

Mukusa aents: African-American

Pinchuchink: Sparrow

Pirish: Parakeet

Púshu: Coffee

Dead languages

The Ecuadorian constitution highlights the importance of the State respecting and encouraging the conservation of ancestral languages, however this consideration has not stopped the extinction of some of them.

Previously, Ecuador had 13 ancestral languages, but by 2017 two of them were declared dead languages: Zápara and Andoa, after the death of the last people who spoke it.

Due to situations like these, actions have been created to preserve the nine indigenous languages ​​that do not enjoy the same popularity as Kichwa and Shuar.

In January 2019, during the launch of the “International Year of Indigenous Languages”, the Ecuadorian government announced advances in the conservation of ancestral languages.

The deputy foreign minister of Ecuador, Andrés Terán, indicated that Ecuador is currently working to raise awareness about the importance of preserving indigenous languages.

Currently there is an Archive of Languages ​​and Cultures of Ecuador that is responsible for safeguarding printed and audiovisual material on the different indigenous languages ​​of Ecuador.

However, for the preservation of a language it is important not only to preserve the evidence of its existence, but to encourage it so that it is spoken by its original peoples and prevent it from losing its ancestral trace in the timeline.

References

1. File of Languages ​​and Cultures of Ecuador. Taken from: flacso.edu.ec
2. Giovanna Averos. (2016) The Ecuadorian Andean Castilian. Taken from: academia.edu
3. Leader Brasis Lanche Obaco and Gabriel Estuardo Ceballos. (2017) Sociolinguistica: Sociolects in Manabí, Ecuador and their place in the history of linguistics. Taken from eumed.net
4. Ana Teresa Estrella. (2007) Study of the lexicon of Ecuador. Taken from: e-spacio.uned.es
5. Lucía Meseant (2001) Indigenous cultures and languages ​​of Ecuador. Scientific Institute of Cultures. Taken from: icci.nativeweb.org
6. Patricia Naula Herembás. (2019) Article. "Ecuador promoted the preservation of languages." Published by Diario El Tiempo. Taken from: eltiempo.ec
7. Jorge Gómez Rendón (2010) The linguistic heritage of Ecuador. Taken from: magazines.arqueo-ecuatoriana.ec