Race and Racism: Paraguay's linguistic equality - 28 July 08

Spanish is the official language in Paraguay where native cultural tradition is still thriving in modern times. Every citizen is also fluent in Guarani, the language of the country's indigenous people.

Al Jazeera's Lualjazeeracia Newman reports on the linguistic equality that is unique in Latin America.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• race
• racism
• paraguay
• bilingual
• guarani
• lucia
• newman
• aljazeera

[Xpec8tor]

Sad about some comments, insulted about the way some people depict n belittle such a beautiful language. Guarani stands for pride, custom, roots and valor for some paraguayans, but unfortunatelly there r some that think that an indigenous language belittles them on Earth. Yes, English n Spanish are usefull now days,but Guarani n Jopara>steal my breath away every time.My goverment is corrupt, show me one that isn't> my country is poor n 3rd world, but I love it! Rohayju che Reta~

[angelleal77]

Felicidades paraguayos, por haber nacido casi en el paraiso. Como mexicano me considero hermano de toda latinoamerica. del rio bravo a la Patagonia, somos todos iguales, unos mas blancos, otros mas morenos, pero todos con esta herencia amerindia-hispana. Que estupidez discriminar por el color de piel. RECUERDEN QUE SOMOS EL FUTURO. tenemos que construir bien el presente!!!

[vivavida01]

the publications in Py(school books mainly) dont necessarily refer to what people really know about the language and dont support either the idea that paraguayans still speak "pure" Guarani. It is "pure" but business in favor of the more educated and privileged. It's amazing how even the kids in the country side are totally confused when trying to learn "guarani" out of text books. They learn one thing but they speak a different thing.

[vivavida01]

pls believe me..."Guarani" in its spoken form (pure) does not exists in Py. For example, people won say "asu" when referring to "left"; they would pobably say "derechape" or "ndederechape". I'd like to face a scenario where people in Py are adressing each other in "pure" Guarani or a radio or TV voice conveying a message in "pure" Guarani. Unfortunally, the common people won understand what they are saying, unless they are Guarani teachers.

[vivavida01]

and yes...in the country side(in the most remote villages or companias) people would speak Guarani but not in its purest form..for ejemplo, people won say.."asu" , meaning "left". They would probably say "izquierdape"

[vivavida01]

hi again! I'm not saying that the "Guarani" language itself does not exist ...what I'm saying is that its "spoken form" it is not the purest expression of the language...

[KT3728]

rohayhu paraguay <3



[KT3728]

@vivavida01 the real Guaraní is definitely still there. Even though many people speak Jopara, they still learn pure Guaraní in schools. Go out to the countryside and you'll see little kids who only speak Guaraní, or old people who only speak Guaraní. It's true- the younger, teenage/young adult population in most cases does speak Jopara, but the spoken form of Guaraní still very much exists.

[12TabulaRasa12]

great topic

[fgj4001]

Guarani but most people around the word speack english, chinese and indie