Language variation and change in the Upper Amazon: a new koiné?

The Peruvian Alto Amazonas (PAM) is a hotspot as regards language contact and diversity. To date, it is estimated that at least ten different languages from five genealogically unrelated families are spoken there: Achuar, Awajún, and Wampis (Chicham), Shawi and Shiwilu (Kawapanan), Candoshi and Shapra (Candoan), Kichwa (Northern Quechuan), Munichi (isolate) and a variety of Amazonian Spanish. All these groups interact using Spanish as a lingua franca. The degree of levelling or simplification (either at the phonological or morphosyntactic level) in interaction has not been studied. In addition, it is known that all these groups have a native-like command of Spanish. However, little to nothing is known about the influence of their L1 in the lingua franca. The PAM shows a very complex scenario of language contact that could potentially enrich our understanding of koineization and language contact theory, and, at the same time, allow us to better understand the dynamics behind the rapid koineization of American Spanish not long after the arrival of the Spaniards to the region in the XVI century. Fieldwork using variable-targeted stimuli on the MPI Fieldkit (Withers 2015) is the main means for data collection.