Quechua 1.0

Story from Yahoo! News, via Bill Poser at language.log.

Microsoft will translate its blockbuster computer software Windows and Office into Quechua, the language of the indigenous Inca, for Andean nations from Argentina to Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, where it is spoken, the company said.

Microsoft opted to bring today's high-tech software to speakers of Quechua as it is the most widely spoken indigenous language in Latin America, by almost 10 million people, said Marushka Chocobar, Microsoft's educational liaison in Lima.

The Quechua-language version of Windows XP and Office 2003, being developed in Peru, will be available next year.

Peru was the cradle of the Inca empire which in the 16th century stretched from modern-day Colombia down to northern Chile.

Bolivia is the only majority indigenous country in South America. Its indigenous people speak Quechua and Aymara.

This marks the first time Microsoft has translated its software to an indigenous language of Latin America, and is aimed at boosting literacy programs largely among the poor.

Guatemala, in Central America, has millions of Maya language speakers and a high illiteracy rate.

Paraguay, in South America, is the only country in Latin America to make bilingualism official. Students there learn both Spanish and Guarani.

Instead of Science>Technology, Yahoo! News filed this under its "Oddly enough" category. Hrrrmph.