Kawésqar (Qawasqar), also known as Alacaluf, is a critically endangered language isolate spoken in southern Chile by the Kawésqar people. Originally part of a small family, only the northern language remains. In 2009, only 7 elderly speakers of the language remained, most of them on Wellington Island off the southwestern coast of Chile.
Phonology
Vowels
|
Front |
Central |
Back |
| Close |
i |
|
u |
| Mid |
e |
|
o |
| Open |
æ |
a |
|
Consonants
Alphabet
The alphabet in use has the following letters: 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, differences are reported between dialects, and some sounds are not represented.
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.
See also
In Spanish: Idioma kawésqar para niños
