Ashéninka language
Ashéninka is the name that some varieties included in the Ashéninka-Asháninka dialect complex have traditionally received. These varieties belong to the Campan branch of the Arawak family. Ethnologue distinguishes seven languages throughout the whole complex, while Pedrós proposes a division in three languages based on the principle of mutual intelligibility. The varieties included in Ashéninka and Northern Ashé-Ashá have traditionally been called Ashéninka. Glottolog reflects Pedrós’ proposal, although considering the languages proposed by him as groupings of the languages that the Ethnologue distinguishes.
According to the indigenous peoples database of the Ministry [of Education |Peruvian Ministry of Education], there are 15,281 people living in Ashéninka communities, of whom 8,774 claim to be able to speak the language. Ethnologue gives much higher figures for the different Ashéninka varieties.
The classification of the different varieties was first established by David Payne in his Apurucayali Axininca grammar, but he referred to them as dialects and not as different languages.
Ashéninka is a locally official language in Peru, as are all native Peruvian languages. It and its relatives are also known by the pejorative term Campa.
Phonology
Consonants
Pedrós shows the following consonant inventory for Ucayali-Pajonal :Judith Payne describes the following consonant inventory for Pichis:
David Payne shows the same inventory for the Apurucayali variety, but without the palatalized consonants,,, and and with the palatal fricative //.
Mihas shows a similar inventory for the Alto Perené variety with few differences. These are that Mihas does not include neither nor ; David Payne's contrast is considered by Mihas, and she does not include any palatalized consonant because she considers them two-consonant clusters. These three varieties are included in Pedrós' Northern Ashé-Ashá group.