Mapuzungun in Southern Chile Today: Results of recent research

This article presents results of recent research on mapuzungun in Southern Chile. The investigation was based on surveys. Its basic aim was to establish the geographical distribution of some of the main sociolinguistic traits of currentday mapuche-spanish bilinguism within the Mapuche ethnic community. We present information coming both from direct and indirect measurements of the distribution of Mapuche monolinguism and bilinguism and the types and levels of competence with the vernacular tongue. So also, we analyze intergenerational, residential and spatial variability within the bilingual indigenous population. We discuss our results and propose interpretations on the vitality and dynamic nature of the vernacular tongue.

Key words: Mapuche Language, Southern Chile, Bilingualism, Linguistic Vitality, Linguistic Displacement.