La migración interna y la retracción de la lengua materna kichwa en los estudiantes de cuarto grado de la Unidad Educativa Fray Bartolomé de las Casas – Salasaca

Abstract

The present study analyzes the relationship between internal migration and the retraction of the Kichwa mother tongue among fourth-grade students at the Fray Bartolomé de las Casas – Salasaca Educational Unit. The research was conducted using a mixed approach (qualitative–quantitative), with a non-experimental, cross-sectional, and descriptive design, complemented by documentary and field modalities. The population consisted of 34 students, their parents, and two teachers, to whom a semi-structured survey validated by experts in intercultural and linguistic education was applied. The results show that internal migration is present in 44.1% of families, with work being the main reason (93.3%). This process directly influences the use of Kichwa, as integration into urban environments leads to the prioritization of Spanish, causing a progressive displacement of the ancestral language. It was found that 67.6% of students prefer to communicate in Spanish, while only 32.4% choose Kichwa. Regarding intergenerational transmission, 26.5% indicate that no one in their household speaks or remembers the language, while only 23.5% report that the entire family maintains its use. The analysis shows that Kichwa occupies an increasingly reduced space both at home and at school, where Spanish predominates in most interactions, evidencing a clear linguistic retraction. It is concluded that internal migration, together with social and educational factors, significantly contributes to the weakening of Kichwa among new generations.