Quechua thrives despite centuries of suppression
Despite centuries of colonial efforts to suppress it, Quechua thrives as a vibrant language spoken by millions across the Andes, embodying enduring indigenous resilience and identity.
Quechua, a family of indigenous languages, is spoken by an estimated 8 to 10 million people across the Andes, including Peru and Bolivia. This remarkable survival is significant because Spanish colonizers, beginning in the 16th century, actively tried to eradicate native tongues. During the Inca Empire, Quechua was the lingua franca for administration and trade, but its public use declined dramatically after the Spanish conquest in 1532.
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