The Many Languages Of Bolivia: A National Identity

Bolivia has one of the highest numbers of official languages in the world, with 39 languages recognised as official. The official languages include Spanish, and 36 indigenous languages, according to the 2009 Constitution. Spanish is the predominant language, spoken by 84% of the population, while Quechua and Aymara are the major native languages, with more than a million speakers each.

Spanish is the official language of Bolivia

Bolivia, officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in central South America. It is a diverse country with Amazonian plains and lowlands, mountains, valleys, and the Andes, which has a multiethnic population of around 12 million.

Spanish is the official and predominant language of Bolivia. However, the country also has 36 indigenous languages that are constitutionally recognised as official, including Aymara, Quechua, and Guaraní. Bolivia has one of the highest numbers of official languages in the world, with 39 languages lawfully recognised as official.

Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Bolivia, with 84% of the population speaking it. The specific dialect used in Bolivia is Castilian, also known as Bolivian Spanish, and it is spoken throughout the country. Castilian has five distinct dialects that are primarily defined geographically: Vallegrandino Spanish, Valluno Spanish, Chapaco Spanish, Camba Spanish, and Andean Spanish. The Andean Spanish dialect is used in the Andes region, while the Valluno Spanish dialect is predominantly spoken in the Cochabamba and Chuquisaca regions.

Bolivia's history has been influenced by various cultures, including the ancient Aymara civilisation, the Incas, and the Spanish conquistadors. The country's linguistic diversity reflects this cultural richness, with Spanish co-existing alongside numerous indigenous languages that are integral to the country's heritage and continue to be spoken by a significant number of Bolivians today.

Bolivia has 39 official languages

Spanish is the official and predominant language in Bolivia, with 84% of the population speaking it. However, Bolivia's population is multiethnic, and the country is committed to recognising and preserving its indigenous languages.

The four most commonly spoken indigenous languages in Bolivia are:

• Quechua: This is the language of the Inca and is spoken by 28% of the population. It is predominantly spoken in Cochabamba, Tarija, Potosí and Chuquisaca.
• Aymara: This is one of the oldest Latin American pre-Colombian languages and is spoken by 18% of the population. It is mainly spoken in La Paz and Oruro.
• Guaraní: This is the native language of the Guaraní ethnic group from the Chaco and Amazonian regions. It is spoken by 1% of the population in the department of Santa Cruz.
• Moxos: This language is spoken in the Beni department of Bolivia.

The Bolivian government requires that at least two languages are used in official communications: Spanish and another language depending on the circumstances and needs of the territory in question.

Additionally, Bolivia's national anthem has been translated into six indigenous languages: Aymara, Bésiro-Chiquitano, Guaraní, Guarayu, Quechua, and Mojeño-Trinitario.

Quechua is the most widely spoken native language in South America

Quechua is a macrolanguage with more than 10 million speakers in seven Latin American countries: Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Peru. It is the most widely spoken native language in South America.

Quechua is an indigenous language family that originated in central Peru and then spread to other countries in the Andes. It is derived from a common ancestral "Proto-Quechua" language. It is the most widely spoken pre-Columbian language family of the Americas.

The name Quechua, which some academics think means "temperate valley", refers to the ethnic group that lived in the high basin of the Río Pampas in Apurimac, considered to be the original speakers of this language and key to its spread.

Quechua was the common language of the Inca and is currently spoken in Cochabamba, Tarija, Potosí and Chuquisaca in Bolivia. It is estimated that there are over 2.1 million native Quechua speakers in Bolivia.

Quechua is an agglutinative language, which means it has a set of suffixes that are added to a root or main word to make it a longer, complete word. For example, "wasi" means house, and "wasiyki" means "your house". The language generally follows a subject-object-verb sentence structure.

Quechua is divided into two geographically-defined dialects: Quechua I and Quechua II. Quechua II is the dialect with the most speakers across Bolivia.

Like many other indigenous languages in Bolivia, Quechua is experiencing a steady decline in the number of native speakers. This decline is attributed to the lack of Quechua-based literature, with the Bible being the only widespread book written in Quechua.

Aymara is one of the oldest Latin American pre-Colombian languages

The Aymara people are one of the most famous Amerindian peoples in the world. They are indigenous to the Andean highlands, and have a rich history and culture that has survived not only the Spanish conquest but also the previous conquest by the Incas.

The Aymara language is called "jaqi aru", which translates to "the language of the people". The term "Aymara" is of uncertain origin and was introduced during colonial times. The Incas called the Aymara people "collas", and the Spanish named the language Aymara based on linguistic information collected in the Collao region.

The Aymara people have a unique conception of time. In most Indo-European languages, time is treated as something that goes backward, with the past behind us and the future in front. In the Aymara language, however, the future is placed behind the speaker as it is unknown, and the past and present are in front as they have been lived and are, therefore, visible.

The Aymara have a rich oral tradition, with many legends and narratives that reflect their history and culture. Their worldview is based on the idea of adapting to and understanding the nature of the Andes, seeing everything as dual but complementary, with concepts such as male and female, day and night, up and down. This dualistic worldview also extends to their social organization, with a focus on equality and flexibility, and individuals being able to change roles within the family and the "ayllu", the basic social, political, and geographical unit.

The Aymara have a long history of agriculture and herding, developing sophisticated techniques to survive in the harsh conditions of the Andean highlands. They are skilled weavers, with textiles that are considered among the most complex and highly developed in the world. They also have a rich musical tradition, with instruments such as panpipes, flutes, and drums featured prominently in their festivals and celebrations.

Despite facing great hardships and exploitation throughout their history, the Aymara have persevered and continue to play an important role in the cultural and political landscape of Bolivia and other South American countries.

Bolivia has one of the world's highest numbers of official languages

Bolivia is a country with a diverse linguistic landscape, boasting one of the highest numbers of official languages in the world. With 39 languages recognised as official, Bolivia celebrates and protects its multicultural identity. While Spanish is the dominant language, the country also recognises and promotes the use of numerous indigenous languages, reflecting its rich cultural heritage.

The 2009 Bolivian Constitution is a testament to the country's commitment to linguistic diversity and cultural inclusion. This constitution specifies that all indigenous languages are official, listing 36 specific languages with this status. Notably, the constitution goes beyond mere recognition and mandates the use of multiple languages in governance. According to Article 234, the Bolivian government and departmental governments are required to utilise at least two languages in their operations, with Spanish being one of them. This provision ensures that the languages of the territory are represented and valued.

Among the 36 indigenous languages granted official status, some of the most commonly spoken include Quechua, Aymara, Guarani, and Chiquitano. Quechua, the language of the Inca Empire, is the most widely spoken native language in South America, with around 10 million speakers across the continent and over 2 million in Bolivia alone. Aymara, another ancient language, is spoken by approximately 2.8 million people in the Andes region and holds cultural significance as the language of the Aymara civilisation. Guarani, native to the Guarani ethnic group, is spoken in the border regions with Paraguay and Argentina, while Chiquitano is prevalent in the central part of the Santa Cruz department.

In addition to these widely spoken languages, Bolivia also recognises and protects numerous smaller indigenous languages, some of which are spoken by fewer than 1,000 people. This commitment to linguistic preservation extends even to extinct languages like Puquina and Machajuyai-Kallawaya, which are included in the constitution's list of official languages.

The promotion and preservation of indigenous languages in Bolivia extend beyond legal recognition. Following the National Education Reform of 1994, all 30 indigenous languages were introduced alongside Spanish in the country's schools. While implementation varied, this reform represented a significant step towards ensuring the survival and transmission of these languages to future generations. Additionally, the Bolivian government has developed remedies to encourage the use of certain indigenous languages, such as intercultural bilingual programs for Aymara.

Bolivia's linguistic landscape is further enriched by the presence of foreign languages like German and Portuguese, spoken by communities near the Brazilian border, and Plautdietsch, a German dialect used by Mennonites in the Santa Cruz region.

The country's dedication to linguistic diversity and cultural preservation is evident in its efforts to promote the use of indigenous languages, ensure their presence in education, and provide official recognition and protection. With its multitude of official languages, Bolivia stands as a global leader in celebrating and safeguarding linguistic and cultural heritage.

Frequently asked questions