Language/Classical-quechua/Pronunciation/Alphabet-and-Pronunciation

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In Peru there are no less than 13 linguistic regions, each speaking a different Quechua but with reciprocal influences and a common background due to its historical diffusion before, then after the arrival of the Incas and the conquest. Vocabulary and pronunciation often differ.

Varities of Quechua include:

  1. Ancash Quechua (Anqas Qichwa) - spoken in the Department of Ancash in northwestern Peru
  2. Ayacucho Quechua (Chanka runasimi) - spoken in southern Peru
  3. Cajamarca Quechua (Kashamarka qichwa) - spoken in northwestern Peru
  4. Cuczo Quechua (Runasimi Qusqu Qullaw) - spoken in Cuzco and the Cuzco region in southern Peru
  5. Huallaga Quechua (Wallaqa Runashimi) - spoken in the Department of Huánuco in central Peru
  6. Huaylla Wanca Quechua (Wanka Nunashimi) - spoken in central Peru
  7. Kichwa (Kichwa Shimi / Runa Shimi) - spoken in southern Ecuador
  8. Santiagueño Quechua (Arhintina runasimi) - spoken in northern Argentina
  9. South Bolivian Quechua (Uralan Buliwya runasimi) - spoken in Boliva, Argentina and Chile

Once you've tackled this subject, you may be eager to discover these connected themes: Negation.

Quechua Alphabet[edit | edit source]

The Quechua alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet.

The number of letters employed in writing Quechua highly depends on the Quechua dialect. However, the following are the core letters generally used:

Uppercase A Ch H I K L Ll M N Ñ P Q S T U W Y
lowercase a ch h i k l ll m n ñ p q s t u w y
IPA æ ɑ h ɪ ɛ k l ʎ m n ɲ p q s t ʊ ɔ w j

In Ecuador and Bolivia, however, J(j) is used instead of H(h) because ⟨h⟩ and ⟨ʼ⟩ are used to express aspirated and ejective sounds:

Uppercase Chh Ch' Kh K' Ph P' Qh Q' Sh Sh' Th T'
lowercase chh ch' kh k' ph p' qh q' sh sh' th t'
IPA tʃʰ tʃʼ ʃ ʂ

In writing some dialects, the [ɪ ɛ] and [ʊ ɔ] variations are distinguished by using the letters ⟨e⟩ and ⟨o⟩, respectively, resulting in the use of five vowel letters instead of three. In some dialects, vowel lengths are distinguished by doubling vowel letters to indicate that a vowel is long:

Uppercase Aa Ii Uu Ee Oo
lowercase aa ii uu ee oo
IPA æː ɑː ɪː ɛː ʊː ɔː ɛː ɔː

In yet other dialects, with additional sounds, additional letters are employed:

Uppercase Tr' Ts Z
lowercase tr' ts z
IPA ʈʂ ts z

Stress[edit | edit source]

Stress in Quechua normally falls on the penultimate (next-to-last) syllable of a word.

Videos[edit | edit source]

ALPHABET IN QUECHUA[edit | edit source]

The sounds of Southern Quechua and its writing system[edit | edit source]

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