Language

Although there are dialectal differences between Sierra and Costa Spanish, which has been influenced by Quichua, Spanish is Ecuador's official language of business and government. The indigenous people of Peru speak Quichua and Shuar (both official intercultural languages), as well as other ancestral languages. Ecuador has over ten indigenous languages, many of which will likely survive as mother tongues. The majority of indigenous males are bilingual, and women are becoming more so as well. Bilingualism and bilingual or bicultural education are becoming increasingly important concepts. When bargaining in rural markets, a few Quechua words will not only endear you to the vendors, but will almost always result in an extra orange or more juice! A number of small lowland groups have their own languages. English is understood in the best hotels, airline offices, and travel agencies, but it is useless elsewhere.

Quichua, a local variant of Quechua, is the second most widely spoken language (5%), followed by Shuar (1%); both are used for communication among speakers of different languages. Chimborazo Province has the highest concentration of Quichua speakers. Quichua is also included in the national curriculum. Shuar is a Jivaroan language that is spoken by approximately 35,000 people. Shuar speakers are concentrated in the provinces of Morona Santiago and Pastaza in southeastern Ecuador. Eleven additional Indigenous languages are spoken. These are the first languages of approximately 28,000 Ecuadorians, the majority of whom live in northern Ecuador. The majority of people in the country's urban areas, particularly along the coast, are monolingual and only speak Spanish. Indigenous languages are spoken more frequently in rural areas.