Languages of Ecuador

[vijayjohn]

Apart from Spanish, at least 21 indigenous languages are spoken in Ecuador. They include at least one mixed language (possibly more, at least depending on who you ask) and two language isolates. Since the Andes pass through Ecuador, the most widely distributed language family is Quechuan. Apart from the nine Quechuan language varieties, four Barbacoan languages are spoken in northwestern Ecuador, two Jivaroan languages are spoken in the Amazon near the Peruvian border, two Tucanoan languages are spoken in the Amazon near the Colombian border, and Zaparo is spoken in eastern Ecuador near the border with Peru between the areas where the Quechuan language variety Northern Pastaza Quichua and the language isolate Waorani are spoken.

[vijayjohn]

The other language isolate spoken in Ecuador, further to the north and west of Waorani, is Cofán, which is also spoken across the border in Colombia. Waorani is also spoken across the border with Peru. There is or at least used to be one mixed language combining elements of Spanish and Imbabura Quechua in Salcedo, almost in the middle of the country. Further north, in Imbabura Province, there is another similar mixed language spoken, or perhaps multiple such mixed languages or at least multiple varieties of a mixed Spanish-Quechua language. All of these mixed languages have been known as Media Lengua.

Napo Lowland Quechua is the variety of Quechua spoken in the northeast, near the border with Colombia. Imbabura Highland Quechua is spoken to the west. Calderón Highland Quechua is spoken south of that and just east of the capital city, Quito. Tena Lowland Quechua is spoken to the southeast of that and south of Napo Lowland Quechua, and Northern Pastaza Quechua, to the south of that. Chimborazo Highland Quechua is spoken to the southwest of Calderón Highland Quechua, and Salasaca Highland Quechua, to its east. Cañar Highland Quechua is spoken to the south of Chimborazo Highland Quechua. Finally, Loja Highland Quechua is spoken further to the south.