THE INDIGENOUS COMPONENT OF ECUADORIAN SPANISH: CONTACT LINGUISTICS IN ACTION

Abstract

This article examines the influence of Ecuador’s indigenous languages, particularly Kichwa and Shuar, on the formation of Ecuadorian Spanish. Drawing on the theoretical framework of contact linguistics (Weinreich, 1953; Thomason & Kaufman, 1988; Myers-Scotton, 2002), the study analyzes the public discourse of leading Ecuadorian media outlets from 2019 to 2024 (El Comercio, El Universo, El Telégrafo, La Hora, Expreso, El Mercurio, Primicias, Crónica). Special attention is given to indigenous lexical items (minga, guagua, chakra, shungo, arraray, achachay, meset) and their integration into Spanish through semantic adaptation and morphological incorporation.

The analysis demonstrates that indigenous borrowings fulfill not only communicative but also symbolic functions, serving as markers of authenticity and collective identity. The study further explains why Kichwa and Shuar – due to demographic strength, historical prestige, and sociopolitical visibility – are represented in the national public sphere, whereas other indigenous languages remain largely confined to local use. The findings suggest that Ecuadorian Spanish is best understood as a language of hybrid identity, combining the universality of the Spanish-speaking world with the cultural specificity of indigenous traditions.