Quechua has been spoken in the Andes region of South America for a long time, even before the Inca Empire. After the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, Quechua continued to be used widely to communicate between the Spanish and indigenous peoples. However, over time its prestige declined and it became restricted to rural areas. Now there are approximately 6,500 native Quechua speakers worldwide, located primarily in Peru. The language is endangered because some believe Spanish signifies education and culture, while Quechua is seen as a language for uneducated people.

1. Quechua

2. Origins
● The Original
Quechua has been
expanding and
diverging since very
long before the Inca
Empire and it was
spoken primarily in
the Andes.

3. Divergence
● After the Spanish
conquest in the 16th
century, Quechua
continued to see
considerable usage, as
the "general language"
and main means of
communication between
the Spaniards and the
indigenous population.
● Despite a brief
revival immediately
after independence,
the prestige of
Quechua decreased
sharply and it
gradually became
restricted to rural
areas.

4. Speakers
● Now, Quechua has
6500 native
speakers around the
world.

5. Cause
● Quechua is in danger
because people
think that Spanish is
the language of the
cultured people. And
they think that
Quechua is for
uneducated people.

6. Location
● It is spoken in the
Yauyos and Chincha
districts of Peru.

7. Video

8. More Information