Tinkuy. Meeting of opposites or different groups. A look at the sources

Abstract

The Quechua word tinkuy (from the root tinku- of the verb ‘to meet’ and the noun ‘meeting’) is used by the Ministry of Education of Peru in order to promote festive meetings among school children of different cultures. During these meetings children can talk to each other about their experiences. The public institution aims to contribute to the children’s cognitive development in their intercultural competence in a culturally heterogenous society and, consequently, to overcome social and cultural exclusion. What does tinkuy mean for Quechua speakers? This paper offers an analysis of the root tinku- in different dictionaries of the 16th, 17th and 19th centuries. ‘Meeting’ is a general translation. But tinkuy is used in many different contexts. This point underlines the importance of using dictionaries as an ethnographic source in the studies of language and culture of the Andean region. The specific uses of tinku- will help us to understand terms and ideas about how Quechua people use tinkuy nowadays in their ritual, public and everyday life.