Some causes that may be influencing the eventual weakening of the vitality and possible displacement of the Mapuche language by the Spanish spoken in Chile

Summary

Nowadays, it is common to hear about the interruption in the use and transmission of the Mapuche language in the new Mapuche generations. This fact is becoming serious due to some researchers observing a decrease in the number of speakers of Mapuche language. Consequently, they predict that this language will be replaced by Spanish. In this work, we suggest that it is possible to address this problem from another perspective and, at the same time, we propose to check some of the linguistic, educational or social factors that are supposed to be responsible for considering the Mapuche language as an endangered language. Finally, as a conclusion, we note some considerations that must be present to face the eventual weakening of the vitality or demise of the Mapuche language.