Immediate Impact:
* Suppression: The Spanish actively discouraged the use of Quechua, replacing it with Spanish as the language of administration, education, and commerce.
* Forced Conversion: Indigenous people were forced to convert to Christianity, and religious practices were conducted in Spanish.
* Loss of Literacy: The Inca had a complex system of knotted cords called quipus for record-keeping. With the Spanish conquest, this system was largely abandoned, contributing to the loss of ancient knowledge and cultural heritage.
Long-Term Consequences:
* Marginalization: Quechua became associated with poverty, illiteracy, and indigenous identity, which was often seen as inferior by the Spanish. This resulted in a decline in the language's status.
* Dialectal Divergence: Without a centralized authority promoting a standardized form of Quechua, regional dialects diverged, making communication between different groups more difficult.
* Lingua Franca: Despite the suppression, Quechua continued to be spoken in rural areas and remained a lingua franca among indigenous communities.
Modern Day:
* Resurgence: In recent decades, there has been a growing movement to revitalize and promote Quechua.
* Official Language: Quechua is now recognized as an official language in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia.
* Education: Quechua is taught in some schools in these countries, and there are efforts to create bilingual education programs.
* Cultural Identity: Quechua plays a vital role in preserving indigenous culture and history, and it is a symbol of resistance against assimilation.
Overall: The Spanish conquest had a significant impact on the Quechua language. While it faced suppression and marginalization, it has endured and is experiencing a resurgence in recent times. Quechua is now a symbol of indigenous identity and cultural resilience.