Xincan languages have many loanwords from
Mayan languages especially in agricultural terms, suggesting extensive contact with
Mayan peoples. These come from both the
Chʼolan and
Quichean branches. According to Campbell, Xinca also has a "vast number of Mixe-Zoquean loanwords", suggesting contact with now extinct
Mixe-Zoque varieties of the Guatemalan Pacific coast. In the 16th century the territory of the Xinca extended from the
Pacific coast to the mountains of
Jalapa. In 1524 the population was conquered by the
Spanish Empire. Many of the people were forced into slavery and compelled to participate in the conquest of modern-day
El Salvador. It is from this that the names for the town, river, and bridge "Los Esclavos" (The Slaves) are derived in the area of
Cuilapa,
Santa Rosa. After 1575, the process of Xinca cultural extinction accelerated, mainly due to their exportation to other regions. This also contributed to a decrease in the number of Xinca-language speakers. One of the oldest references concerning this language was presented by the archbishop Pedro Cortés y Larraz during a visit to the diocese of
Taxisco in 1769.
Contemporary situation Xinca was most recently spoken in seven municipalities and a village in the departments of
Santa Rosa and
Jutiapa. In 1991, it was reported that the language had only 25 speakers; the 2006 edition of the
Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics reported fewer than ten. Nonetheless, of the 16,214 Xinca who responded to the 2002 census, 1,283 reported being Xinka speakers, most probably semi-speakers or people who knew a few words and phrases of the languages. However by 2010, all completely fluent speakers have died, leaving only semi-speakers who know the languages. ==Distribution==