Download file 74 KB Texto completo en español More of: Fernando Zúñiga

The article sketches out a tentative evaluation of the actual ethno-linguistic vitality of the Mapuche language in Chile within the framework proposed by Landweer (2000) and on the basis of the specific investigation carried out by the Centre of Public Studies in 2006. The principal conclusion is that mapudungun seems to be in a state of socio-linguistic peril, and that only public and private initiatives that lead to an effective and efficient revitilization in the short term can save the language from imminent extinction.