Kawésqar (also known as Qawasqar [ISO 639-3], Alacaluf, Halakwulup, Kaweskar, Alakaluf, Kawaskar, Kawesqar, Qawashqar, Halakwalip, Hekaine, Kaueskar, Aksana, Aksanás) is an Alacalufan language spoken in southern Chile by the Kawésqar people. Originally there were several distinct dialects. Kakauhua is sometimes listed as a dialect, but is usually listed as a separate language, as in ISO 639-3 and Ethnologue. The language family containing these two languages is known as Alacalufan. Only about 20 speakers remain, half of them on Wellington Island, off the southwestern coast of Chile.
[edit] Phonology
[edit] Vowels
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Front |
Central |
Back |
| Close |
i |
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u |
| Mid |
e |
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o |
| Open |
æ |
a |
[edit] Consonants
[edit] Writing System
The alphabet in use is as follows [1]: a, æ, c, c', e, f, h, i, j, k, k', l, m, n, o, p, p', q, r, rr, s, t, t', u, w, x. However, there are reported to be differences between dialects, and some sounds that are not represented here.
[edit] Morphology and syntax
Kawésqar has a complex system of grammatical tense, which includes a basic morphological contrast between future, present, immediate past, recent past, distant past, and mythological past events.
[edit] Pronoun
[edit] See also
[edit] Bibliography
- Ethnologue entry for Qawasqar
- Aguilera Faúndez, Óscar (2001): Gramática de la lengua kawésqar. Temuco: Corporación de Desarrollo Indígena.
- Clairis, Christos (1987): El qawasqar. Lingüística fueguina. Teoría y descripción. Valdivia: Universidad Austral de Chile [Anejo de Estudios Filológicos 12].
- Pieter C. Muysken. 2004. The Languages of the Andes. Cambridge Language Surveys. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[edit] External links
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| Extinct and endangered languages |
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