Kawésqar language

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.

Phonology

Vowels

Consonants

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.

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.

Pronoun

Noun

Verb

See also

• Alacaluf

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.

External links

• Information on Kawésqar language from the MultiTree project
• Qawasqar dictionary online (select simple or advanced browsing)
• Kawésqar
• SerIndigena - Territorio Kawesqar
• Entry for Kawésqar at Rosetta Project
• Kawésqar at the World Atlas of Language Structures Online