Boruca language
The Boruca language is the native language of the Boruca people of Costa Rica. It is one of the Chibchan languages. It is nearly extinct; it was spoken fluently by only five women in 1986, while 30 to 35 others spoke it non-fluently. The rest of the tribe's 1,000 members speak Spanish. The language is taught as a second language at the local primary school Escuela Doris Z. Stone. One can hear Bronka words and phrases mixed into Spanish conversations but it is extremely rare to hear prolonged exchanges in Bronka.
Greetings:
¿Ishójcre rában? = What's up?
Morén, morén. = Fine, well.
The personal pronouns in Boruca
Person | Singular | Plural |
1st | át | diᵛ / diᵛ rójc |
2nd | bá | biᵛ / biᵛ rójc |
3rd | i | i rójc / iᵛ rójc |
The numbers
Numbers | Bronka |
1 | éᵛxe, éᵛxi |
2 | búᵛc |
3 | man̈ |
4 | bájcan̈ |
5 | shishcán̈ |
6 | téshan |
7 | cúj, cújc |
8 | éjtan̈ |
9 | cújtan̈, éjcuj |
10 | téjcuj, cróshtan̈, búᵛc cúj |