Lowland Peruvian Quechua

Lowland Peruvian Quechua, or Chachapoyas–Lamas Quechua, is a Quechua language spoken in the lowlands of northern Peru. The two principal varieties are,

• Lamas Quechua, or San Martín Quechua (Lamista, Llakwash Runashimi), spoken in the province of Lamas in the region of San Martin and in some villages on the Huallaga River in the region of Ucayali by some 15,000 people
• Chachapoyas Quechua, or Amazonas Quechua, spoken in the provinces of Chachapoyas and Luya in the region of Amazonas by some 7,000 people
• Southern Pastaza Quechua, or Inga, spoken in the province of Datem del Marañón in the region of Loreto, along the Huasaga, Manchari, and Pastaza rivers by approximately 3,500 people.

Few children are learning Chachapoyas Quechua. Conila is said to be the last village where children are able to speak it.

Lowland Peruvian Quechua is quite similar in pronunciation to Ecuadorian Kichwa. However, it has not been grammatically simplified (creolized?) to the same extent. For example, Lowland Peruvian maintains the inclusive/exclusive distinction for "we".

Bibliography

• Gerald Taylor, 2006. Diccionario Quechua Chachapoyas-Lamas (– Castellano)
• Marinerell Park, Nancy Weber, Víctor Cenepo S. 1975. Diccionario Quechua de San Martín – Castellano y vice versa. Ministerio de educación del Perú