Mapuche

Mapuche is a language spoken in Chile and Argentina by the Mapuche people. It is also known as Mapudungun, and is a member of the Araucanian language family. Mapuche is one of the few surviving indigenous languages in the Americas, and is currently endangered. The Mapuche people have a long and rich history in Chile and Argentina, dating back to before the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. The Mapuche were able to resist Spanish colonization for many years, and as a result, their language and culture were able to survive. However, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Mapuche were forcibly assimilated into Chilean and Argentine society, and their language began to decline. Today, there are an estimated 1.5 million Mapuche people in Chile and Argentina, and about 200,000 of them speak Mapuche. The language is most commonly spoken in rural areas, and is declining in urban areas. The younger generation is also increasingly abandoning Mapuche in favor of Spanish. There is currently no standard written form of Mapuche, and the language is not taught in schools. However, there are a number of organizations working to promote and preserve the language. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in Mapuche culture, and more people are learning the language. Mapuche is a complex and fascinating language, and is an important part of the heritage of Chile and Argentina.