subject: Learn a South American Indigenous Language [print this page] Learn a South American Indigenous Language
They may not be as commonly used as Spanish, French, Mandarin, or Arabic, but South America's indigenous languages are still worth learning. Set yourself apart from others when applying for job or college by knowing a local indigenous dialect. Learning an indigenous language will help you communicate with locals and expand your thinking. The Aymaras in Bolivia approach logic in a completely unique fashion with values of true, false, or uncertain to each statement. Aside from the practical benefits of deeper cultural travel, languages like Quechua, Aymara, and Guaran provide a new goal for those who are already comfortable with European languages.
Hundreds of languages in South America are threatened by extinction, because as the world becomes more globalized, fewer towns and villages are isolated from the outside world. This means younger generations do not always see the benefit of learning their parents' traditional language. Many governments and non-governmental organizations are beginning to undertake efforts to preserve some of the major indigenous languages in the world, especially in South America.
Quechua. Quechua is the famous language of the Incan Empire, although it was spoken long before them. Today, Quechua is still spoken by roughly 8.5 million people in Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru, where it is the second official language. In these countries, it is primarily in the Andes that the language persists. A great place to learn Quechua is in Cusco or Bolivia, as they have many speakers and some remaining literature. Alternatively, Ohio State University, in the United States, has recently announced that it was start offering language lessen in Quechua.
Aymara. Some argue that a form of Aymara was the "secret language" of the Incas, used by the elite for private communications, while the rest of the empire spoke Quechua. Whether or not this theory is true, Aymara is an interesting language that has managed to survive. Today is it spoken by over 2 million people, despite its lack of written form. During a Bolivia vacation you may be able to catch radio programs in Aymara.
Guaran. Guaran is the only indigenous language in South America which is also spoken by non-indigenous people as their mother tongue. It was the first of the South American indigenous languages to be awarded official language status, which happened in 1992. Ninety-five percent of Paraguayans speak Guaran, and many of these people are bilingual, with Spanish as their other language. Textbooks are usually printed in both languages, as are newspapers, and bilingual education is gaining strength, and many politicians are Guaran speaking. Many of the Spanish language schools in Asuncion, Paraguay's capital, also offer Guaran courses. For those vacationing in Paraguay, Guaran is an excellent way to delve deeper into Paraguayan life.
