A Comparative Lexical Analysis of Unified Kichwa and Agualongo de Paredes Kichwa
Date
2021-12-14
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
0000-0002-6133-3576
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
This thesis analyzes two Kichwa language varieties; a community variety spoken in the community of Agualongo located in the Ecuadorian province of Imbabura, and Unified Kichwa, a standardized variety of Kichwa, to demonstrate their lexical and phonological differences. Due to the differences between these two language varieties, conflicts have arisen between advocates of Unified Kichwa and speakers of community varieties of Kichwa as the former attempt to standardize language and the latter attempts to retain its linguistic distinctions. One of the biggest criticisms of Unified Kichwa is that it attempts to homogenize the language, which could be better described a continuum of language varieties/ dialects, with rich and diverse lexical and phonological innovations. However, the biggest controversy are the attempts by language purists (proponents of Unified Kichwa) to replace all of the Spanish borrowings, which make up a substantial portion of Kichwa vocabulary in community varieties, with unfamiliar neologisms. Consequently, speakers of community Kichwa varieties, especially elders, have problems learning or even accepting the standardization of their language due its unintelligibility and disregard of those that actually speak the language.
This thesis aims to bring to light the differences and similarities in the Agualongo Kichwa and Unified Kichwa lexica, semantics, and pronunciation. Results suggest that differences make the Unified system more complicated than simply adopting prescriptivist norms that are used in formal settings. It also suggests that such differences are likely at the root of conflicts between speakers of Community dialects Kichwa, especially elders, who are reluctant to accept the new variety of their language. Finally, this thesis argues that the pressure of unifying the Kichwa dialects of Ecuador could hinder and eventually stamp out the dialectal richness found across the country.
Description
Keywords
Kichwa, Spanish, lexicon, neologisms, revitalizing.
Citation
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department
Linguistics
Program
Linguistics