Chibcha language

Chibcha, also known as Muisca or Mosca, is "officially" an extinct, Ethnologue, accessed 9 Nov 2010 Chibchan language of Colombia, formerly spoken by the Muisca people, a complex indigenous civilization of Central America and the present-day Colombian region. Scholars believe the Chibcha language arose in Central America and then migrated with people to nearby areas. In 1770, King Charles III of Spain officially banned use of the language in the region as part of a de-indigenization project. The ban remained in law until Colombia passed its constitution of 1991.

Although the language is officially extinct, some words of Muyskkubun origin are still used in the departments of Cundinamarca of which Bogotá is the capital, and Boyacá. These include curuba (a fruit), toche (a bird), guadua (a bamboo-like plant) and tatacoa (a snake). The Muisca descendants continue many traditional ways, such as the use of certain foods, use of coca for teas and healing rituals, and other aspects of natural ways, which are a deep part of culture here. Chibcha culture flourished in these areas since at least the 7th century BC., Colombia, Inter Press Service (IPS) News, 30 Nov 2007, accessed 9 Nov 2010

The only public school in Colombia currently teaching Muisca (to about 150 children) is in the town of Cota, about 20 miles by road from Bogotá. The...
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