American Indian language
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Puquina Language (Pukina)
Puquina was one of the languages of the Inca civilization, spoken in the southern Andes (Peru, Bolivia, and Chile.)
It was still spoken at the time of Spanish colonization, but is no longer spoken today. Most Puquina speakers shifted
to the more populous Quechua and
Aymara languages. The ritual
Kallawaya language, still used for religious purposes
by a sect of itinerant medicine men in Bolivia, is largely based on the ancient Puquina language.
Although some Chipaya and
Uru communities also use the name
"Puquinas," this is a cultural connection on their part, not a linguistic one.
The Uru-Chipaya languages are not related to the ancient Puquina language.
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Names: The original meaning of the name Puquina has been lost. The Quechua name for this tribe is Puqi, but
it isn't clear whether this was an external name that the Quechuas used for them or their own name for themselves that the Quechuas borrowed.
Their name has also been spelled Pukina or Puqina.
Puquina Language Tree:
Theories about Puquina language relationships compiled by Linguist List.
Language Structures: Puquina:
Information about Puquina language typology and features.
Puquina Language:
Demographic information about Puquina from the Ethnologue of Languages.
Wikipedia: Puquina:
Encyclopedia entry about the Puquina language.
Puquina Books for Sale Online
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links
The Languages of the Andes:
Linguistic information about Puquina and dozens of other Andean languages.
Las lenguas de los incas: el puquina, el aimara y el quechua:
Book in Spanish about the languages of the Incan empire.
Links, References, and Additional Information
Lengua Puquina
La Cultura Puquina
Idioma Puquina:
Information about the Puquina people and their language in Spanish.

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