The language standardization process
The standardization of writing
To begin with, no natural language in the world is spoken uniformly by all its users. Every language exhibits variation and is sensitive to different conditions that are diaphasic (occurring in the same speaker depending on the situation), diastratic (occurs because of factors related to social stratification), diatopic (occurs along the geographical extension of a language area), and diachronic (occurs along the history of a language). However, at the written level, a certain uniformity can be achieved when a standard or normalized script is developed, given that writing is a conventional graphic representation of a given language. According to Lehmann (2018), the standardization or normalization of a language "is the determination of the standard variety, as a result of empirical research in sociolinguistics and descriptive linguistics" (p. 343).
On the other hand, while orality and writing are two different planes of language realization, they are closely related. However, this does not mean that writing is a phonetic transcription of speech patterns, but rather the graphic representation of distinctive units (phonemes). Strictly speaking, no language in the world is phonemically, and Waywaš Šimi is no exception.
It is sometimes believed that the purpose of standardization is the elimination of variation. This is a very common misconception. The elimination of variation is impossible. Not only would it be an unattainable goal for practical reasons, but it is also impossible for reasons of principle: variation is a fundamental and necessary fact of human language and of every language (Lehmann, 2018).
In the specific case of Waywaš Šimi, which presents itself as a highly dialectalized Quechua, the standardization sought is solely for its written form. Therefore, the purpose is not to standardize oral language, much less eliminate the variation that occurs within this dialectal group. For example, the Castilian language (almost always referred to as "Spanish"), as well as Waywaš Šimi and other languages, exhibits considerable oral variation; however, it has been possible to construct a standardized or normalized writing system, thus not eliminating oral variation. Similarly, the possibility of constructing a standardized writing system for Waywaš Šimi will not lead to the elimination of the variation that exists within this dialectal group.
In the following table, based on certain cases, we show a path toward a standardized writing system for Central Quechua:
As can be seen in the table shown, the different alternating forms that exist in Waywaš Šimi, for example, to say 'partridge' or 'our mother', confirm that there is high dialectal variation. In these cases, for a macro-regional and unified writing system, the older form will be written preferentially, or the different forms will be written alternately with the standardized form.
Likewise, the establishment of a unified writing system for Waywaš Šimi does not in any way imply that speakers will approximate their pronunciation to the written form. Thus, for example, when a speakerfrom Huamalíes says [gam], or one from Huancayo says [am], and another from Huaraz says [qam], neither the speaker from Huamalíes nor the one from Huancayo has to pronounce it as [qam]. They must continue to pronounce this wordas each of them habitually pronounces it in their respective variety. This does not prevent them, however, from writing the word according to the rules of the standardized writing system, that is, <qam> 'you', given that the writing is conventional. In this sense, it is important that speakers become truly aware of the advantages of using a standardized and normalized writing system.
In summary, the purpose of standardizing the writing of a language is to support effective communication and facilitate its use within a linguistic community (Lehmann, 2018). Similarly, the proposal for a unified writing system within Waywaš Šimi seeks effective written communication and thus the development of an academic Yačaypaq Waywaš Šimi. It also aims to serve as a unifying element for the different peoples who speak Waywaš Šimi.
How did the Latin script writing standardization process in the writing of Waywaš Šimi happen in Peru?
The process of standardizing the writing system of Waywaš Šimi began on June 5, 2014, at the "National Event for the Implementation of the Quechua Language Writing System within the Framework of Ministerial Resolution 1218-85-ED," held in the district of Cieneguilla (Lima). This event was organized by the Ministry of Education with the participation of Quechua representatives from the regions of Cajamarca, Lambayeque, San Martín, Loreto, Áncash, Pasco, Huánuco, Junín, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Cusco, Apurímac, Arequipa, Moquegua, and Puno. Researchers and linguists specializing in the Quechua language also participated, including Rodolfo Cerrón Palomino and Félix Julca. At this workshop, the graphemes of the alphabets and the basic writing standards for the four macro-variants of the Quechua language were agreed upon. These four macro-variants are Southern Quechua (Quļa Wampuy Simi), Central Quechua (Waywaš Šimi), Amazonian Quechua (Anċa-Ċinċa Wampuy Simi), and Northern Quechua (Ċinċa Wampuy Simi).
To continue the process begun in Cieneguilla (2014), two macro-regional meetings were held shortly afterward that same year. The First Macro-regional Meeting of Central Quechua and the Second Macro-regional Meeting of Central Quechua were organized by the Central Quechua Coordinating Committee, chaired by linguist Félix Julca. The first took place in the city of Huancayo (Junín) and the second in the city of Huaraz (Áncash). Of these two meetings, the second was the most significant, bringing together more than 700 participants from the different regions of Waywaš Šimi and provinces of Áncash. This important meeting was held at the National University Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo in November 2014, where an evaluation of the implementation process for the Waywaš Šimi writing system was conducted. In addition, researchers and linguists Rosaleen Howard, Luis Andrade, Félix Julca, Holger Saavedra, and the team of specialists from the General Directorate of Alternative, Intercultural Bilingual Education and Educational Services in Rural Areas of the Ministry of Education participated in this event. In summary, the report was favorable regarding the implementation of the Cieneguilla agreements.
Subsequently, with the aim of implementing the agreements reached at the Cieneguilla event in the development of the Central Quechua writing manual, another workshop was held in June 2016 in the district of Lince, Lima region, in a consensual and participatory manner with representatives of this macro-variant. This workshop was conducted with the participation of bilingual teachers from the regions of Áncash, Huánuco, Pasco, Junín, La Libertad, and Lima provinces; the Intercultural Bilingual Education (EIB) specialist from the Áncash Regional Directorate of Education (DRE Áncash); representatives from the Junín Regional Directorate of Education (DRE Junín), the Daniel Alcides Carrión Local Education Management Unit (UGEL), the Oyón Local Education Management Unit (UGEL 14), and the Huaraz Local Education Management Unit (UGEL Huaraz); Central Quechua linguists Félix Julca and Franklin Espinoza; and specialists from the Intercultural Bilingual Education Directorate (DEIB) of the Ministry of Education, Vidal Carbajal and Humberto León. One of the most significant agreements reached at this event was to continue implementing the agreements from the Cieneguilla workshop within the framework of Ministerial Resolution (R.M.). 1218-85-ED on the unified alphabet and basic rules of writing Waywaš Šimi.
Also in 2016, another workshop was held to further implement the agreements reached at previous events in the review and validation of the Central Quechua writing manual, in a consensual and participatory manner. This workshop took place in the city of Barranca, Lima region, with the participation of bilingual teachers from various regions.
from Áncash, Junín, Pasco, La Libertad, Lima provinces, and Huánuco, as well as specialists from the Áncash Regional Directorate of Education (DRE Áncash), Samuel Gerónimo Robles Andrade; from the Huancayo Local Education Management Unit (UGEL Huancayo), Luis Jesús Herrera Mendoza; from the Huacaybamba UGEL Huacaybamba, Eugenio Peña Blas; from the Huaraz UGEL Huaraz, Judit Quispe Loli; and from the Daniel Alcides Carrión UGEL Daniel Alcides Carrión, Manzueto Carbajal Requis. Also participating were the Waywaš Šimi linguists Félix Julca Guerrero and Franklin Espinoza, and the specialists from the Intercultural Bilingual Education Directorate (DEIB) of the Ministry of Education, Vidal Carbajal, Teddy Castillo, Humberto León, and Holger Saavedra. Among the most noteworthy agreements of this event was the use of forms from ancient Quechua in writing, which have been preserved in some varieties of Waywaš Šimi.
Linguistic Criteria for an unified writing system of the Waywaš Šimi
According to Lehmann (2018), standardization should prioritize culture over language maintenance or conservation; that is, for a language to survive, it should evolve. However, in general, archaic or conservative forms are the clearest and most transparent. Therefore, they should be granted standard status.
Therefore, from a purely linguistic point of view, in determining the standard variety from among the coexisting varieties, the best course would be to opt for archaic forms. To a large extent, it would be better to follow this criterion because linguistic change would erase the formal and semantic links between linguistic forms, links that writing should make evident and that can still be recognized in conservative or original forms (Lehman, 2018: 354). Likewise, this author maintains that not everything archaic or ancient is the best, but rather that it is a method for simplifying variation that, in reality, does not harm anyone on a synchronic level and that, moreover, supports the principle that writing should reflect the structure of meaning.
Later, we will describe and explain some recommended criteria for a standardized, macro-regional writing system for Waywaš Šimi. Many of these criteria are based on the ideas we have developed in the preceding paragraphs of this section.
Criteria at the Phonological Level
At the level of sounds, the unified writing system of Central Quechua is primarily based on the sounds of Old Quechua. In fact, within this macro-variety, many of these Old Quechua sounds have been preserved in some varieties that, in dialectological studies of the Quechua language, have been termed conservative varieties. When this criterion is followed, the standardized writing system of Central Quechua may, in certain aspects, coincide with the phonological characteristics of some varieties that have indeed preserved phonological features of Old Quechua. However, this does not mean that the unified writing system of Central Quechua has developed or is developing from these varieties. On the contrary, to a large extent, the standardized writing system of Central Quechua aims to reflect characteristics of the phonological structure of this entire dialectal group When a diachronic evaluation of the phonological aspect of Central Quechua as a whole is carried out, the apparent extreme phonological differences are actually reduced to alternations motivated by geographical factors, and it is also verified that there are more similarities than differences among the different varieties of Central Quechua. The following table shows some examples:
