Kawésqar (also Qawasqar, Alacaluf, Halakwulup, Kaweskar, Alakaluf, Kawaskar, Kawesqar, Qawashqar, Halakwalip, Hekaine, Kaueskar, Aksanás) is a language isolate spoken in southern Chile. Originally there were several distinct dialects, and one of these, Kakauhua, is sometimes listed as a separate language. The language family containing these two languages is known as Alacalufan. Only about 6 speakers remain, half of them on Wellington Island, off the southwestern coast of Chile. Jump to: navigation, search This is a list of languages ordered by number of first-language speakers, with some data for second-language use. ... Current distribution of Human Language Families Most languages are known to belong to language families (families hereforth). ... A language isolate is a natural language with no demonstrable genealogical (or genetic) relationship with other living languages; that is, one that has not been demonstrated to descend from an ancestor common to any other language. ... ISO 639 is one of several international standards that lists short codes for language names. ... SIL International is a non-profit, Christian, scientific organization with the main purpose to study, develop and document lesser-known languages for the purpose of expanding linguistic knowledge, promoting world literacy and aiding minority language development. ... Jump to: navigation, search This list of languages is alphabetical by English name. ... A language isolate is a natural language with no demonstrable genealogical (or genetic) relationship with other living languages; that is, one that has not been demonstrated to descend from an ancestor common to any other language. ...

Phonology

Vowels

Consonants

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. Jump to: navigation, search Grammatical tense is a way languages express the time at which an event described by a sentence occurs. ...

Pronoun

Noun

Verb

Bibliography

• 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].

External links

• Kawésqar
• Lengua Kawésqar
• Ethnologue report
• SerIndigena - Territorio Kawesqar