Indigenous languages revive and thrive in Mexico

About half the estimated 7,000 languages spoken in the world today may disappear by the end of this century. The world loses another language approximately every two weeks.

In the state of Chiapas, Mexico, about 25 percent of people dont speak any Spanish. Rather, they speak a host of indigenous languages, many of which originated in ancient Mayan times. Some organizations, like the Intercultural University of Chiapas school in San Cristobal, work to keep these dying languages alive by teaching them to the next generation.

Worldfocus special correspondent Lynn Sherr and producer Megan Thompson highlight Mexicos attempt to preserve the past by speaking ancient languages in the present tense.

Learn about other endangered languages across Latin America and listen to audio samples courtesy of the Archive of the Indigenous Languages of Latin America: http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/11/indigenous-languages-revive-and-thrive-...

Worldfocus video podcast: http://feeds.feedburner.com/worldfocus

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• indigenous cultures
• languages
• Latin America
• Lynn Sherr
• Mayan
• Megan Thompson
• Mexico
• Chiapas
• news
• Worldfocus
• World Focus

[qetuo1000]

spanish shouldn't be our language, nahualt, mayan, otomi, among others should be, we dont even feel related to all other hispanic nations,

[ED000111]

AMERICA NATIVA UNIDA !!!!!

[uphamtimothy]

"Hatzi" is "Greetings" in Otomi - Eastern Highland dialect. "Te gihxa" is "Greetings" in Otomi - Estado de Mexico dialect. "Hats'i" is "Greetings" in Mezquital dialect. Now there is the Queretaro dialect, and this is broken into "Hadi" is "Greetings" in the Queretaro (Amecalco) dialect. "Ta moxo" is "Greetings" in the Queretaro (Guanajuato) dialect. "Hjatzi" is "Greetings" in Temoaya dialect. "Haxa'jua" is "Greetings" in Texcatepec dialect. "Haxa" is "Greetings" in Tilapa dialect.

[98bigbutt]

@qetuo1000,I want to learn how to speak these languages.

[98bigbutt]

My mom thought I was crazy for wanting to learn these Native languages.

[drciaran]

Tuilleadh teannaidh oraibh, a chairde. Ní neart go cur le chéile.

[howie1945]

celtic vikings sami wiccan pagan are the true eurupeans

[carrito1981]

@EPGAH You sir, are a champion troll. I applaud your art. May the internet bow down to Your Trollness.

[EPGAH]

The culture a person practices is in no way tied to their genetics. Theres nothing about what's in your genes that dictates your culture... it all has to do with the culture your parents practiced and how you were raised and people that surrounded you.

Assimilation is not selling out, it's recognizing and emulating, rather than envying, the successful culture!

[shrekalicious2000]

@EPGAH It is up to me to choose my identity, not you. I choose an indigenous identity, whether you like it or not, whether you think it's "lesser" or not. It is my choice. And I have made it. You cannot change it. thanks. 

[EPGAH]

@shrekalicious2000 Your FORMER identity will only be excess baggage in this world. I studied my ancestry, all the way back to the Mayflower, but I won't get any special treatment because my ancestors founded this country. For that matter, I don't expect it, but if I did, I'd be horribly disappointed!

Abandon your old identity and join the identity of whatever country you choose to inhabit.

Then try to keep up as the country changes under you! Mostly from the demands of lesser cultures...

[shrekalicious2000]

@EPGAH how many times do i have to tell you: I DONT CARE HOW USEFUL THE LANGUAGE IS!?!?! It's about learning my heritage, my identity. NOT about the utility. So stop trying to convince me to not learn it. I will do it anyway.