Quechua is one of the most widely spoken and historically significant Indigenous languages in South America. Once the lingua franca of the Inca Empire, it facilitated communication among diverse Andean societies under the Tahuantinsuyo. Today, between 10 and 13 million people speak Quechua across six South American countries such as Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Argentina, and Chile. Peru is home to the largest number of speakers and the greatest linguistic diversity within the Quechua language family.
At the University of Pennsylvania, the Quechua program offers students the opportunity to engage with this rich linguistic and cultural heritage, fostering deeper connections with Indigenous knowledge systems and contemporary Andean-Amazonian realities.
Quechua is more than a language. It is a profound expression of the Andean-Amazonian worldview. Studying Quechua provides insight into its complex structure while unveiling the principles and values embedded in the civilizational matrix of the region.
The history of the Andean nations is inseparable from Quechua. As the central language of the Inca Empire, it played a vital role in governance, trade, and cultural expression. During the colonial period, it persisted as a medium of resistance and adaptation. Learning Quechua deepens our understanding of Andean history, from the pre-Inca civilizations through colonial and post-colonial transformations to contemporary Indigenous struggles for cultural and linguistic rights.
Khipu at Penn Museum
Beyond history, studying Quechua enhances our comprehension of Andean-Amazonian cultures, their institutions, wisdom traditions, and belief systems developed through a profound relationship with their environment. Learning Quechua fosters a holistic appreciation of Andean identity, strengthens Indigenous visibility, and supports language revitalization efforts, particularly as some Quechua varieties face the risk of extinction.
Language is a powerful force for social cohesion. In the Andean region, Quechua often exists in a state of diglossia, subordinate to Spanish. Learning Quechua actively promotes its recognition, strengthens linguistic identity, and contributes to the decolonization of knowledge by advancing linguistic justice.
Quechua is a language of culture, just like Greek, Latin, or globally recognized languages such as English, Spanish, and Chinese. It shares an invaluable legacy with other Indigenous languages like Aymara, Navajo, and Nahuatl. The renowned Andean intellectual Gamaliel Churata affirmed that Quechua and Aymara are repositories of Andean wisdom, just as Latin and Greek are for the Greco-Roman tradition. Recognizing Quechua’s significance means breaking free from colonial-era linguistic hierarchies and embracing its rightful place among the world’s great languages.
Quechua at Penn: A Unique Learning Experience
The University of Pennsylvania offers Quechua through the Penn Language Center, providing students with dynamic and immersive learning experience. The program goes beyond language instruction, fostering a deeper understanding of Andean and Amazonian cultures while integrating interdisciplinary perspectives.
Key Features of the Program:
- Communicative Approach: Develops practical language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) for real-world interactions.
- Cultural Integration: Explores the history, traditions, and contemporary realities of Quechua-speaking communities.
- Interdisciplinary Connections: Enhances studies in fields such as Anthropology, History, Linguistics, Latin American and Latino Studies, Indigenous Studies, and Andean Studies.
Studying Quechua at Penn is an opportunity to celebrate linguistic diversity and support Indigenous empowerment. The program integrates language learning with discussions on contemporary issues, including Andean worldviews, environmental sustainability, traditional knowledge, ethnicity, and Indigenous rights.
Quechua is more than a language. It is a living cultural tradition that carries the oral history, identity, and collective memory of millions of Indigenous people. Learning it at Penn provides:
- Linguistic and Cultural Immersion: Deep engagement with Indigenous knowledge systems, oral traditions, and worldviews.
- Interdisciplinary Academic Benefits: A strong foundation for research and coursework in Latin American, Andean Studies, Indigenous Studies, Political Science, Environmental Studies, and beyond.
- Professional and Research Opportunities: Valuable skills for careers in academia, international development, NGOs, cultural preservation, and human and linguistic rights advocacy.
By learning Quechua, students connect with the lived experiences of Andean-Amazonian communities while contributing to the preservation of their language and heritage. At Penn, this initiative expands Indigenous representation within the university, reinforcing the Quechua expression kachkaniraqmi “I know that I am still here.”
A Transformative Learning Experience
The Quechua program at Penn is more than just language instruction. It is an engagement with Indigenous knowledge systems and an opportunity to develop intercultural competence. Classroom discussions address social, political, educational, and cultural issues affecting Indigenous communities, fostering critical awareness and global perspectives.
Students gain essential skills to interact with Indigenous communities, conduct fieldwork, contribute to language revitalization, and promote cultural understanding. Whether for academic, professional, or personal enrichment, Quechua at Penn offers a meaningful and transformative educational experience.
Join us in exploring the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of Quechua-speaking communities!
Academic and Enrollment Information
- Course Credit: Quechua courses count toward the major/minor in Latin American and Latino Studies and the minor in Native American Studies.
- Linguistics Specialization: The courses are also relevant for students focusing on language structure, language preservation, language revitalization, sociolinguistics, and multilingualism.
- Open Enrollment: Undergraduate and graduate students from Penn, Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr, and Haverford are eligible to take Quechua classes.
- Graduate Student Participation: Penn graduate students may enroll after obtaining permission from their advisor.
Opportunities in the Quechua Program
The Quechua program at the University of Pennsylvania offers research, professional development, and volunteer opportunities:
- Indigenous Language Revitalization: The program collaborates with local, national, and international initiatives focused on revitalizing Indigenous languages offering students opportunities to contribute.
- Research and Fellowships: Many former students have received Fulbright and other prestigious grants to conduct research related to Quechua.
- Field Applications: Language proficiency can support medical missions and community projects in the Andes.
Integrating Indigenous languages like Quechua into university curricula reaffirms the profound value of Indigenous cultures and their speakers, who have long endured structural inequalities from colonial and post-colonial histories. It echoes the Quechua expression kachkaniraqmi ‘I know that I am still here.’ This statement affirms resilience, presence, and worth. It is a message to all, particularly to Indigenous language speakers who have been told their languages should not exist. Recognizing the immense value of Quechua is also an acknowledgment of the dignity and significance of its people.
At the University of Pennsylvania, the Quechua program is committed to teaching the language as a means of developing proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, while also fostering cultural awareness and intercultural competence among students.
The Evolution of Quechua Teaching in Recent Years
Languages such as English, Spanish, and Chinese are widely recognized for their cultural and economic importance, and no one questions their value. The same holds true for classical languages like Greek and Latin. However, Indigenous languages like Quechua have historically faced skepticism about their relevance, due in large part to colonial sociolinguistic hierarchies.
This perception is changing. Universities in the Andes and the United States are actively working to reposition Quechua and other Indigenous languages, giving them the academic space and respect they have always deserved. In recent years, a paradigm shift has emerged: rather than asking, “Why learn Quechua?” students and educators now approach the language with a growing sense of cultural pride and responsibility.
A new generation, particularly young people aged 15 to 30, has embraced Quechua as part of a broader cultural renaissance. This resurgence is fueled by Quechua’s increasing visibility in film, television, art, academic research, and literature. Quechua is no longer seen as merely a language of the past; it is actively shaping contemporary culture and identity.
At the University of Pennsylvania, we organize a variety of Quechua-related cultural activities, including lectures on Andean topics, dance workshops, film screenings, and game nights. Our platform is dedicated to highlighting the importance of integrating Indigenous languages into Latin American curricula while honoring and respecting Andean culture.
Learning Quechua is more than acquiring a new language. It is an act of recognition, resilience, and solidarity with Indigenous peoples. Join us in celebrating and preserving this extraordinary linguistic and cultural heritage.
