Puquina languages

Puquina languages
Geographic
distribution
Around Lake Titicaca
Extinctearly 19th century
L2: 10-20 (2007, Kallawaya)
Linguistic classificationusually unclassified
Macro-Arawakan?
Subdivisions
Language codes
ISO 639-3puq (Puquina proper only)
Glottologpuqu1242  (Puquina proper only)

Puquina (or Pukina) is a small, putative language family, often portrayed as a language isolate, which consists of the extinct Puquina language and Kallawaya. It is assumed that the latter is just a remnant of the former mixed with Quechuan, Puquina speakers are last mentioned in the early nineteenth century.

The Qhapaq simi, which was spoken by the Inca elite, in contrast to the Quechuan-speaking commoners, is thought to be related, as well as the Leco language, generally considered a language isolate. They are spoken by several native ethnic groups in the region surrounding Lake Titicaca (Peru and Bolivia) and in the north of Chile. Puquina itself is often associated with the culture that built Tiwanaku.