Huillice language
Encyclopedia
The Huilliche language (also known as Veliche and Huiliche) is an Araucanian language
spoken (as of 1982) by about 2,000 ethnic Huilliche
people in Chile
. It is spoken in an area south of the area inhabited by the Mapuche
, in the nation's Los Lagos
and Los Ríos
regions; and mountain valleys, between the city of Valdivia and south toward Chiloé Archipelago
. Huilliche has a dialect called Tsesungún.
Mapudungun
, the language of the Mapuche
, is closely related to Huilliche, but they are barely understandable to each other. Most Huilliche speakers are older adults because the language is in decline; most ethnic Huilliche people currently speak Spanish as their first language.http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=huh
Araucanian languages
The Araucanian languages, sometimes considered divergent dialects of a single language isolate, are a small language family of central Chile and neighboring areas of Argentina....
spoken (as of 1982) by about 2,000 ethnic Huilliche
Huilliche
The Huilliche is an ethnic group of Chile, belonging to the Mapuche culture. They live in mountain valleys in an area south of Toltén River and on Chiloé Archipelago...
people in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. It is spoken in an area south of the area inhabited by the Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
, in the nation's Los Lagos
Los Lagos Region
Los Lagos Region is one of Chile's 15 regions, which are first order administrative divisions, and comprises four provinces: Chiloé, Llanquihue, Osorno and Palena. The region contains the country's second largest island, Chiloé, and the second largest lake, Llanquihue.Its capital is Puerto Montt;...
and Los Ríos
Los Ríos Region
The XIV Los Ríos Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Valdivia. Pop. 356,396 . It began to operate as region on October 2, 2007. It was created by subdividing the Los Lagos Region in southern Chile...
regions; and mountain valleys, between the city of Valdivia and south toward Chiloé Archipelago
Chiloé Archipelago
Chiloé Archipelago consists of several islands lying off the coast of Chile. It is separated from mainland Chile by Chacao Channel in the north, the Sea of Chiloé in the east and Gulf of Corcovado to the southeast. All of the archipelago except Desertores Islands, which are part of Palena...
. Huilliche has a dialect called Tsesungún.
Mapudungun
Mapudungun
The Mapuche language, Mapudungun is a language isolate spoken in south-central Chile and west central Argentina by the Mapuche people. It is also spelled Mapuzugun and sometimes called Mapudungu or Araucanian...
, the language of the Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
, is closely related to Huilliche, but they are barely understandable to each other. Most Huilliche speakers are older adults because the language is in decline; most ethnic Huilliche people currently speak Spanish as their first language.http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=huh