Quechua Word Structure

Analysis of Three Sample Texts

with full analysis of the structure of the Quechua words

Contents

Introduction

Text One: Life in the Peruvian Army

Text Two: The First Aeroplane Over the Andes

Text Three: Why Did the Gringos Go to the Moon?

Key to Abbreviations for Suffixes

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Introduction: Quechua Word Structure

Cuzco Quechua builds its (often long) words up in a generally strict order.

Every word starts with a root (there are no prefixes in Quechua).

After the root can come a sequence of suffixes …

1. Suffixes to derive new word meanings (equivalent to new dictionary entries in European languages).

2. Suffixes used to add all grammatical information to relate the main noun and verb words to each other.

3a. Suffixes (and ‘clitics’) used to determine the type of sentence as a whole, and indicate the source of information for this utterance.

3b. Suffixes to keep track of topics of the whole conversation, i.e. the between the sequence of multiple sentences.

On these pages, these types of suffixes are distinguished by colour, as follows.

• derivational: with no change of part of speech

– Generally equivalent to deriving new vocabulary in European languages, but also includes …

– voice (e.g. reflexives, causatives)

– aspect (progressive).

• derivational: with change of part of speech

– To derive new vocabulary with a change of part of speech, i.e. generally verb-to-noun or noun-to-verb.

– The second type especially, i.e. verb-to-noun, is used extensively also in Quechua grammar. What in European languages are usually subordinate clauses with a full verb are structured very differently in Quechua: a derivational suffix is added to the ‘subordinate’ verb to turn it into what is structurally now a noun, and so that noun-based grammatical suffixes can be added to it, and the whole clause becomes a noun phrase.

• grammatical (‘inflectional’):

– person: subject or object (direct or indirect) of a verb; possessor of a noun

– number: singular or plural, of verb subject or object; or of a noun

– clusivity: inclusive/exclusive forms of we

– case: on nouns, and verb phrases nominalised using a verb-to-noun derivational suffix

– tense

• sentence-type (+ focus):

– Type of sentence (statement, question, supposition, order)

– evidential value (indicated by different morpheme);

– focus (by the word this morpheme is attached to).

• information structure:

– Keeping track of topics of the whole conversation, introducing new ones and relating them to others: new (in statements or questions); contrastive; additional.

Three texts are presented here are taken and adapted from a native Quechua-speaking villager’s account of his life:

Valderrama Fernández, Ricardo & Carmen Escalante Gutiérrez (1982)
Gregorio Condori Mamani – Autobiografía
Centro Bartolomé de las Casas: Cuzco, Peru

The English translations are a mixture of my own, and my adaptations to those by P. Gelles and G. Martínez in the English version, alias:

Valderrama Fernández, Ricardo & Carmen Escalante Gutiérrez (1996)
Andean Lives: Gregorio Condori Mamani & Asunta Quispe Huamán
University of Texas Press: Austin

For full details and a review of these books, click here.

The spelling of these texts has been amended to follow the official Quechua alphabet for southern Quechua (Ayacucho, Cuzco, Puno, Bolivia). Since the original book was published before the 1985 spelling reform, it was written with five vowels, appropriate for Spanish but not for Quechua. The reforms in the mid-1980s rectified this, and the official alphabets in all three main Quechua-speaking Andean countries (Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador) all now use only three vowels <i>, <a> and <u> in the spelling of native Quechua words. The letters <e> and <o> are therefore found in these texts only in Spanish loanwords which have not been fully assimilated to Quechua pronunciation.

In the Quechua texts, words in grey are borrowings from Spanish. The first passage in particular, where Gregorio relates his time as a press-ganged conscript in the Peruvian Army (where Spanish was the only language it was permitted to speak), has an even greater number of loanwords from Spanish than is usual in Quechua. This is largely due to the context of the Peruvian Army, an institution entirely dominated by Spanish. To give you a bit of a perspective by comparison with English, words in grey in the English translation of the first text have also been put in bold if they are ones that English has borrowed from French.

Note too that the first Quechua passage has a total of just 69 words, while the English translation has 139: a clear indication of Quechua’s agglutinating language structure.

To see the parallel texts here aligned with each other properly, you may need to set the text size on your browser to fairly small.

To jump to the explanation of any particular suffix, just click on it. Then click Back to go back to the text.

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Text One: Life in the Peruvian Army

Valderrama Fernández, Ricardo & Carmen Escalante Gutiérrez (1982: 43-44)

Khayna-m	soldado	vida	ka-rqa-n.
Such-dir:foc	soldier	life	be-past:dir-3

Such was life as a soldier.

Cuartel-pi-qa	todo	recto-m
Barracks-lcv-top	all	strict-dir:foc

In the barracks everything was strict:

«patria	serve-y	obedecer	todo»,
fatherland	serve-inf	obey	everything

“serve fatherland, obey everything”,

chay-pi-qa	mana-m	ati-ku-n-chu	«mana-m»	ni-ku-y-ta.
that-lcv-top	no-dir	can-rfxv-3-neg:foc	no-dir	say-rfxv-inf-acv

you can’t say no to anything there.

Si-chus	«mana-m»	ni-nki
If-dub:foc	no-dir:foc	say-2

If you do say no,

u-taq	mala	voluntad-wan	rura-nki,
or-ctv	bad	will-itl	do-2

or do something without showing willing,

castigo,	calabozo	o	patadas.
punishment	lock-up	or	kicking.

then punishment, lock-up or a kicking.

Si-chus	mama-yki	wañu-chi-na-yki-paq	kama-chi-su-nki
If-dub:foc	mother-2	die-csv-pdg-2-pps	do-csv-3-2:oj

If they order you to kill your mother

chay-ta-pas	rura-na-yki;	si	no,	mana	patria	obedece-y-chu.
that-acv-adnl	do-pdg-2	if	not,	not	fatherland	obey-inf-neg:foc

then you had to do so; if not, that was not obeying the fatherland.

Cuartel-pi-qa	ka-lla-n-taq	abecedario	mana	lee-y	yacha-q-paq
barracks-lcv-top	be-ltv-3-ctv	alphabet	not	read-inf	know-ag-dtv

In the barracks there’s also an alphabet for those who don’t know how to read

letra-kuna

alambre-pi

ensarta-sqa

a-b-c-d-j-k-p.

letter-pl

wire-lcv

wind-pppl

a-b-c-d-j-k-p

the letters are wound in wire: a-b-c-d-j-k-p.

Clase-kuna	abecedario-ta-qa	yacha-chi-q-ku,
NCO-pl	alphabet-acv-top	know-csv-ag-vbpl

The non-commissioned officers teach the alphabet

tuku-pti-yki-taq	primer	año-ta	qu-su-nki-ku.
finish-pplsb-2-ctv	first	year-acv	give-3-oj:2-vbpl

and when you finish, they class you as first year passed.

Hayku-pti-yki-taq	tapu-su-nki-ku:	«Yacha-nki-chu	lee-y-ta?»
Enter-pplsb-2-ctv	ask-3-oj:2-vbpl	know-2-ynq:foc	read-inf-acv

When you join up they ask you: “Do you know how to read?”

«Mana-m	yacha-ni-chu»	ni-pti-yki-taq,	apa-mu-q-ku
not-dir	know-1-neg:foc	say-pplsb-2-ctv	carry-trans-ag-vbpl

And if you say that you don’t know how to

kay	letra-kuna-ta	yacha-chi-na-su-yki-ku-paq
this	letter-pl-acv	know-csv-pdg-3-oj:2-vbpl-dtv

the sergeants and the sub-lieutenants

sargento-kuna,	subteniente-kuna.
sergeant-pl	sub-lieutenant-pl

bring you these letters in order to teach you.

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Text Two: The First Aeroplane Over the Andes

Valderrama Fernández, Ricardo & Carmen Escalante Gutiérrez (1982: 30-31)

Huk	p’unchaw-mi	era	tiempo-pi,
one	day-foc:dir	threshing	time-lcv

One day during the threshing season,

rikhu-ri-rqa-mu-n	huk	hatun-kankaray	urpi
see-drv-past:dir-trans-3	one	big-aug	bird

a huge bird suddenly appeared

kuntur-man	rikch’a-ku-q,	condenado-hina	qapa-rqa-cha-spa.
condor-ioj	appear-rfxv-ag	damned-simil	shriek-drv-drv-pplgd

looking like a condor, shrieking like one of the damned.

Chay-qa	llipi-y-ku	era-pi	ka-q-kuna	mancha-ri-ku-y-ku.
that-top	all-1-pl.excl	threshing-lcv	be-ag-pl	scare-drv-rfxv-1-pl.excl

All of us working there threshing got scared.

Chay	rato-taq	ñuqa	yuya-ri-rqu-ni
that	moment-ctv	I	remember-drv-drv-1

And right then, I remembered:

huk	kuti-n	tio-y	Gumercindo-p	willa-ku-sqa-n-ta,
one	occasion-rel	uncle-1	Gumercindo-gen	tell-rfxv-past:rpv-3-acv

what my uncle Gumercindo once told (us): that

pisi	p’unchaw	kay	pacha-p	tuku-ku-na-n	ka-chka-pti-n-si
few	day	this	world-gen	end-rfxv-pdg-3	be-pgv-pplsb-3-foc:rpv

a few days before the end of this world, they say,

huk	allqamari	kuntur	uma-yuq	llama	chaki-yuq
one	messenger.eagle	condor	head-psv	llama	feet-psv

a messenger eagle with a condor’s head and llama feet

runa	inka	familia-man	willa-q-ni-n-chik	hamu-nqa
runa	Inca	family-ioj	advise-ag-ep-1-pl:incl	come-fut:3

will come and forewarn us runas, the Inca’s kinsfolk,

Listo	kay	pacha-p	tuku-ku-y-ni-n	suya-na-paq.
ready	this	world-gen	end-rfxv-nml-ep-3	wait-pdg-dtv

to be waiting ready for the end of this world.

Hina-spa-m	tio-y	ni-rqa-n:
Thus-pplgd-foc:dir	uncle-1	say-past:dir-3

And my uncle also said:

– Inka-rrey-mi	kunan	ukhu	pacha-pi	tiya-chka-n,
– Inka-king-foc:dir	now	inside	world-lcv	live-pgv-3

— Inkaríy has been living in the underworld

señor	kura	Pizarro-p	wañu-chi-sqa-n-manta	pacha.
Señor	priest	Pizarro-gen	die-csv-past:rpv-3-abl	time

ever since Pizarro the priest killed him.

Hina-spa-m	chay	pacha	tuku-ku-y	p’unchaw
thus-pplgd-foc:dir	this	world	end-rfxv-inf	day

And the day this world ends,

lluqsi-mu-nqa	lliw	runa-kuna-man	aypa-q.
go.out-trans-fut:3	all	runa-pl-ioj	take.by.the.hand-ag

he’ll emerge to join all the runas.

Hina-spa-m	aeroplano	ñuqa-y-ku	sesgo-man
Thus-pplgd-foc:dir	aeroplane	I-1-pl:excl	direction-ioj

So when the aeroplane came veering

hamu-chka-pti-n-taq-mi	ni-rqa-n-ku:
come-pgv-pplsb-3-ctv-foc:dir	say-past:dir-3-pl

in our direction, people said:

— Chay-qa	Tayta-cha	Milagro-m,	ñuqa-n-chik-man-mi	hamu-wa-chka-n-chik.
— That-top	God-dim	miracle-foc:dir	I-1-pl:incl-ioj-foc:dir	come-1.obj-pgv-3-pl:incl

— It’s a divine miracle coming towards us.

Qhawa-ri-pti-y	ñuqa-y-ku	sesgo-man-puni-taq	hamu-chka-n	chay-qa
see-drv-pplsb-1	I-1-pl:excl	direction-ioj-defin-ctv	come-pgv-3	that-top

When I saw that it was truly veering towards us,

yuya-yu-ni	“Tayta-cha	Milagro-chá	riki…”,	ni-spa.
think-drv-1	God-dim	miracle-foc:conj	really	say-pplgd

I was thinking, “This must be a divine miracle ...

«Ay	Taytá-y,	mana-m	hucha-sapa-chu	ka-ni,
Oh	Father-1	not-foc:dir	fault-paug-foc:neg	be-1

Oh Father, I’m no sinner.

chakra-ta-qa	llank’a-rqa-ni-puni-m	tayta-y-kuna-ta	yana-pa-spa».
field-acv-top	work-past:dir-1-defin-foc:dir	father-1-pl-acv	help-drv-pplgd

I’ve always helped my elders work their fields”.

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Text Three: Why Did the Gringos Go to the Moon?

Chhay-na-m

vida

ka-chka-n.

Ignorancia-lla-y-pi-m

that-simil-foc:dir

life

be-pgv-3

ignorance-ltv-1-lcv-foc:dir

Such is life. In my ignorance

ni‑ni:	chay	Tayta-cha-p	llaga-n‑kuna‑taq	chhay‑na
say-1	that	father-dim-gen	wound-3-pl-ctv	that-simil

I say: if the wounds of this God

ni-rqa-q	nak’ari-y-paq	causa,	tawa	p’unchaw	vida-paq…
say-past-ag	suffer-inf-dtv	cause,	four	day	life-dtv

are the cause of so much suffering, for four days of life…

chay‑qa,	imana‑pti-n-mi	mana	maskha-spa‑chu	hampi‑rqu-n‑ku?
that-top,	be so‑pplsb-3-foc:dir	not	seek-pplgd-foc:neg	cure-drv-3-pl

Why don’t we look for him and treat him?

Ña	wata-kuna-ña	chhay-na-ta	warmi-y-ta	ni-rqa-ni,
already	year-pl-discont	that-simil-acv	woman-1-acv	say-past-1

That’s what I said to my wife years ago,

pay-taq-mi	ni-rqa-n:
he/‌she-ctv-foc:dir	say-past-3

and she replied:

– Chay-paq-si	extranjero	mama	Killa-ta	ri-n.
– that-dtv-foc:rpv	foreigner	mother	moon-acv	go-3

– That’s why the foreigners went to the Mother Moon, they say.

Chay-paq	hina-taq-mi	chay	p’unchaw-kuna	lliw	calle-kuna-pi
that-dtv	thus-ctv-foc:dir	that	day-pl	all	street-pl-lcv

In fact, just in those days, in all the streets

rima-y	ka-n,	gringo-kuna-s	avion-pi	semana-nti-n
say-inf	be-3	gringo-pl-foc:rpv	aeroplane-lcv	week-inc v-rel

there was talk of how the gringos, travelling for a week in a plane,

puri-spa	mama	Killa-man	chaya-n-ku,	ni-spa.
walk-ppl:ss	mother	moon-ioj	arrive-3-pl	say-pplgd

had reached the Mother Moon.

Ñuqa-manta	rima-y-lla-chu	si	no	kan-man.
I-abl	say-inf-ltv-foc:neg	yes	no	be-condit.

All that sounds like just tall stories to me though.

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Key to Abbreviations for Suffixes

The suffixes given here are in the form and spellings used in the official Quechua alphabet for southern Quechua (Ayacucho, Cuzco, Puno, Bolivia). For more information on Quechua suffixes, click on these links to see Jean‑Luc Ancey’s webpages on Quechua suffixes, in Spanish or (more briefly) in French. Be aware, though, that he presents the Bolivian forms of these, uses a slightly different spelling system and some different names, but suffixes should still be recognisable as the same as the ones given here.

The abbreviations for these suffixes are my own, but will be updated here to follow the proposed standard conventions for interlinear morpheme translation (the ‘Leipzig Glossing Rules’) drawn up by a number of linguists who are specialists in language typology: Bernard Comrie, Martin Haspelmath, Balthasar Bickel, William Croft, Christian Lehmann, Dietmar Zaefferer, and others. These conventions can be downloaded at:

www.eva.mpg.de/lingua/pdf/Glossing-Rules.pdf

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