Alternate Names: “Araucano” (pej.), Mapuche, Mapudungu
Dialects: Moluche (Manzanero, Ngoluche), Pehuenche, Picunche. Easy intelligibility among dialects. Pehuenche and Moluche are reportedly very similar.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 250,000 in Chile (Crevels 2007). Population total all countries: 258,620. Ethnic population: 604,000 (2002).
Language Use: All ages. Also use Spanish [spa].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 21%. 85,000 are literate in Spanish [spa]. Intercultural Bilingual Education programs may contribute to the survival of Mapundung (Crevels 2007). New media. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1997–2011.
Typology: SVO.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Chile
Other Comments: Ethnic autonym: Mapuche. Traditional religion, Christian.