# Proto-Quechuan language

Proto-Quechuan language is the hypothetical mother tongue or proto-language that would have given rise to the various languages of the Quechuan language family. This proto-language is reconstructed based on evidence from modern Quechuan languages, as well as records of ancient forms.

## Development

Proto-Quechuan was likely spoken in the central region of ancient Peru according to Alfredo Torero. It then expanded southwards to replace Aymara. At the beginning of the fifth century, the proto-Quechua would have crossed the mountain range to settle in the central highlands (Mantaro Valley), then proto-Aymara-speaking, producing the division between Quechua I (to the east) and Quechua II.

## Phonology

The syllables of the Quechua languages are composed of at least one vowel as nucleus. As a general rule, the syllables allow a consonant in position of onset and coda (beginning and end of syllable, respectively).
Three vowel phonemes are distinguished: a vowel open /a/ and closed rounded vowel /u/ unrounded /i/. The precise pronunciation of these vowel phonemes varies with their phonetic environment. The vicinity of a uvular consonant produces more centralized allophones such as [ɑ], [e], [ɛ], [o], [ɔ] and that of the semiconsonant palatal approximant /j/ also causes an overtaking of /a/ to [æ]. As for the consonants, Proto-Quechua would have had three nasal consonant /m, n, ɲ/ four occlusive /p, t, k, q/, two affricates /t͡ʃ, ʈ͡ʂ/, three fricatives /s, ʂ, h/, two approximants /j, w/ and two or three liquid /ʎ, ɾ, (l)/.
Consonant phonemes of Proto-Quechuan :
| | Bilabial | Bilabial | Alveolar | Alveolar | Post-alveolar | Retroflex | Palatal | Velar | Velar | Uvular | Glottal |
| Nasal | | m | | n | | | ɲ | | | | |
| stop | p | | t | | | | | k | | q | |
| Affricate | | | | | t͡ʃ | ʈ͡ʂ | | | | | |
| Fricative | | | s | | | ʂ | | | | | h |
| Approximant | | | | | | | j | | w | | |
| Lateral | | | | (l) | | | ʎ | | | | |
| Tap | | | | ɾ | | | | | | | |

## Phonetic correspondences

The following table shows the numerals in Proto-Quechuan and its evolution in different modern Quechua languages:
| GLOSS | PROTO- QUECHUAN | Quechua I | Quechua I | Quechua I | Quechua I | Quechua II | Quechua II | Quechua II | Quechua II | Quechua II | Quechua II | Quechua II | Quechua II |
| GLOSS | PROTO- QUECHUAN | Huaylas | Huánuco | Huanca | Pacaraos | Cajamarca | Imbabura | Salasaca | Tena | Ayacucho | Cuzco | Bolivian | Santiagueño |
| '1' | *suk | huk | huk | huk, suk | huk | suχ | ʃux | ʃuh | ʃuk | huk | hux | ux | suk |
| '2' | *iʂkaj | iʃkaj | iʃkaj | iʃkaj | iʃkaj | iʃkaj | iʃgaj | iʃki | iʃki | iskaj | iskaj | iskaj | iʃkaj |
| '3' | *kimsa | kima, kimsa | kimsa | kimsa | kima | kimsa | kinsa | kinsa | kinsa | kimsa | kinsa | kinsa | kimsa |
| '4' | *ʈʂusku | ʧusku | ʧusku | ʈʂusku | ʈʂusku | ʈʂusku | ʧusku | ʧusku | ʧusku | tawa | tawa | tawa | taa |
| '5' | *piʧqa | piʦqa | piʧɢa | piʧʔa | pisχa | piʧqa | piʧa | piʧka | piʧka | piʧχa | pʰisqa | pʰiʃqa | piʃqa |
| '6' | *suqta | huqta | suχta | suʔta | huχta | suχta | sukta | sukta | sukta | suχta | suqta | suhta | suqta |
| '7' | *qanʈʂis | qanʧis | ɢanʧis | ʔanʈʂis | ʁanʈʂis | qanʈʂis | kanʧis | kanʧis | kanʤis | χanʧis | qanʧis | qanʧis | qanʧis |
| '8' | *pusaq | puwaq | pusaχ | pusaː | puwaχ | pusaχ | pusax | pusah | pusak | pusaχ | pusaq | pusah | pusaq |
| '9' | *isqun | isqun | isɢun | isʕun | isʁun | isqun | iskun | iskun | iskun | isχun | isqun | hisqʼun | isqun |
| '10' | *ʈʂunka | ʧuŋka | ʧuŋka | ʈʂunka | ʈʂuŋka | ʈʂuŋga | ʧuŋga | ʧuŋga | ʧuŋga | ʧuŋka | ʧunka | ʧuŋka | ʧuŋka |