Quechua is an indigenous language family, the mother tongue of the Inca empire and one that is still spoken widely in the Americas. These are just a few reasons why the language is so important.
Quechua is a language steeped in illusion for me. The Inca civilization used this language, but with no true written form based on its origins, it could have been lost to time. The only thing that could potentially be considered a written form of language for the Incas were the ornate quipus, or, the woven threads that expressed economic issues or important messages for rulers.
The language has remained relatively untouched despite the damage caused by Spanish conquistadors, not only on the words themselves but the Incan culture as well. And that’s because the indigenous people of the area continued to speak it. Some words and phrases were adopted from the Spanish language as the decades progressed.
Why is Quechua so important?
Throughout South America, 8-10 million people speak Quechua, for some it continues to be the only language they speak. For visitors to the Andean region, this means an opportunity to learn the language in order to engage with the people. If you plan to hike the Andes, travel down the Amazon, or visit remote locations across Peru, you will more than likely run into guides, porters, chefs and business owners that speak Quechua.
Quechua is like no other language save for the few added Spanish familiarities. But, then again, there are multiple variations because of how segregated some sects are. In some areas of Peru, they may end up using a more original form, while in others, it could be highly influenced by Spanish. All forms of Quechua were not created equal, because you may get strange looks if you use the wrong variation.
Travel down into remote areas of the Amazon, and you will find a whole new world set out before you.
On a more personal note, keeping old languages alive can be highly important culturally. Applications like Duolingo are at the forefront of language learning software, as languages such as Irish (Gaelic) are seeing new life in a way they haven’t before. Breathing new life into any culture can be important to the world as a whole, as keeping a link to the past can be helpful in understanding it, as well as better preparing for the future. Keep part of the spirit of the Incas alive, take the time to study Quechua. You may end up using it at some point when you visit Peru.
