| − | A Native American language of South America; language of the Incas.
| + | '''Quechua''' is a [[Native American]] language of [[South America]]. It was spoken by the [[Inca]]s<ref>[http://www.quechua.org.uk/Eng/Main/i_INTRO.HTM#HistoryUpToConquest Introduction to the Indigenous Languages of Latin America] (Origins: History up to the European Conquest)</ref> and still survives in areas that were inhabited by the Incas, including [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]], [[Ecuador]], and [[Colombia]]. However, it should be noted that the language predates the Incas by centuries.<ref>[http://www.quechua.org.uk/Eng/Main/i_MYTHS.HTM#DidQuechuaComeFromTheIncas Popular (and damaging) Myths about Quechua] (Did Quechua Come from the Incas?)</ref> |
| | + | An interesting aspect of Quechua is that it uses a three-vowel system, omitting "e" and "o".<ref>[http://www.zompist.com/quechua.html A few words on Quechua]</ref> The grammar is mainly isolating, making it typologically similar to [[Chinese]]. An exception is [[mood (grammar)|mood]] and [[aspect (grammar)|aspect]], which are typically marked by adjectival inflection.<ref>[http://www.zompist.com/kitgram.html The Language Construction Kit] - "Is your language inflecting, agglutinating, or isolating?"</ref> The language also includes question particles.<ref>[http://www.zompist.com/kitgram.html The Language Construction Kit] - "How do you form yes-no questions?"</ref> |