Exploring Bolivia's Rich Cultural Diversity Through Its Many Languages

Bolivia has 37 official languages, 36 of which are indigenous. The country's 2009 Constitution recognises Spanish and all the languages of the nation's indigenous peoples as official. This includes Quechua, the general language of the Incas, and Aymara, one of the oldest languages in the Americas. Bolivia's rich linguistic diversity is a source of pride for its people, and the government is working to protect these invaluable languages by giving them official status.

Bolivia's 2009 Constitution

Article 2 of the Constitution guarantees the self-determination of indigenous peoples within the unity of the State. This includes their right to autonomy, self-government, culture, and the recognition of their institutions. It also ensures the consolidation of their territorial entities, as outlined in the Constitution and the law.

Article 102 of the Constitution states that the State shall register and protect intellectual property, individual and collective works, and discoveries of authors, performers, composers, inventors, and scientists under the conditions determined by law. This provision aims to protect the cultural and intellectual contributions of all Bolivians, regardless of their language or background.

Article 103 further emphasises the importance of scientific development, stating that the State shall ensure the advancement of science, scientific research, technology, and technique in the public interest. The necessary resources shall be allocated to support these endeavours.

Additionally, the Bolivian government and departmental governments are required, per Article 234 of the 2009 Constitution and the General Law of Linguistic Rights and Policies, to use at least two languages in their operations: Spanish and another language chosen based on the circumstances and needs of the territory. This law, enacted in 2012, provided a three-year deadline for government officials to comply, although no immediate punishment was specified for non-compliance.

Spanish is the official language

Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Bolivia, with 70% of the population speaking it as their mother tongue or second language. Bolivian Spanish, or Castilian, is the dominant language in the country and is one of the country's official languages. It is spoken across the country and exists in five distinct dialects: Vallegrandino Spanish, Valluno Spanish, Chapaco Spanish, Camba Spanish, and Andean Spanish. These dialects are primarily defined geographically. For example, Andean Spanish is used by Bolivians in the Andes region, while Valluno Spanish is predominantly spoken in the Cochabamba and Chuquisaca regions.

The Andean region of Bolivia was once part of the Inca Empire before the Spanish colonized the country. After gaining independence from Spain, Bolivians continued to embrace Spanish alongside their indigenous languages and cultures. Spanish is the language of instruction in most schools in Bolivia, and it is also the primary language of government administration and the media.

The Bolivian government recognizes the importance of preserving and promoting indigenous languages. While Spanish is the most widely spoken language, Bolivia is a multiethnic and multilinguistic country with several dozen indigenous languages. To protect and promote these languages, the 2009 Constitution of Bolivia recognizes 36 indigenous languages as official languages alongside Spanish, bringing the total number of official languages to 37.

The recognition of these indigenous languages is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to preserve the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of Bolivia. By including these languages in the Constitution, the government ensures that they are protected and promoted in various domains, such as education, administration, and media. Additionally, this recognition empowers the indigenous communities that speak these languages, ensuring that their voices are heard and their cultures are valued.

Indigenous languages are official

Bolivia's 2009 Constitution recognises 37 official languages, 36 of which are indigenous. The previous official languages of the country were Spanish, Aymara, and Quechua. However, the new constitution recognises all indigenous languages as official, listing 36 specific languages, of which some are extinct.

The 2009 Constitution states that the Bolivian government and the departmental governments are required to use at least two languages in their operation, one being Spanish, and the other being selected according to the circumstances and the needs of the territory in question.

The recognition of these languages is an attempt to preserve them. Before the 2009 Constitution, only 30 indigenous languages were introduced alongside Spanish in the country's schools, and many schools did not implement these reforms, especially urban schools. Now, the Bolivian government and the Plurinational Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures (Ipelec) are taking measures to protect these languages. In 2019, they announced plans to extend constitutional recognition to three additional indigenous languages.

The indigenous languages recognised by the 2009 Constitution are:

• Aymara
• Araona
• Baure
• Bésiro
• Canichana
• Cavineño
• Cayubaba
• Chácobo
• Chimán
• Ese Ejja
• Guaraní
• Guarasu’we
• Guarayu
• Itonama
• Leco
• Machajuyai-kallawaya
• Machineri
• Maropa
• Mojeño-Trinitario
• Mojeño-Ignaciano
• Moré
• Mosetén
• Movima
• Pacaa
• Puquina
• Quechua
• Sirionó
• Tacana
• Tapiete
• Toromona
• Uru-Chipaya
• Weenhayek
• Yaminawa
• Yuki
• Yuracaré
• Zamuco

Some languages are endangered

Bolivia has 37 official languages, 36 of which are indigenous. This is because the 2009 Constitution made all indigenous languages official, listing 36 specific languages, of which some are extinct. The remaining language is Spanish, which is the official language of the country.

The 2012 census of Bolivia records 37 languages in total. The main language is Spanish, spoken by 70% of the population. Many other Indigenous languages are also used, most prominently Quechua (18%) and Aymara (10%).

Of the 37 languages declared official by the constitution of 2009, 23 are spoken by fewer than 1,000 people and 2 are extinct (Puquina and Machajuyai-Kallawaya). Bolivia's remaining 33 official languages are used by different ethnic groups, and 30 of them are in danger of extinction due to new technologies, social change, and globalization.

Indigenous languages are vital to the heritage and identity of Bolivia, and the country is taking steps to protect them. The Bolivian government and the departmental governments are required to use at least two languages in their operation, one being Spanish, and the other selected according to the circumstances and needs of the territory in question.

Bolivia's diverse ethnic groups

The 2009 Constitution of Bolivia officially recognises all the languages of the nation and its indigenous peoples. This move by the Bolivian government serves to protect and promote the country's invaluable linguistic heritage. The languages without official status in Bolivia include Standard German and Portuguese, which is spoken near the border with Brazil.

The four most prominent indigenous languages in Bolivia are:

• Quechua: Spoken by 18% of the population, it is the general language of the Incas and is used in the centre and south of the country, including in the Andes Region and cities like Cochabamba, Tarija, Potosí and Chuquisaca.
• Aymara: With 10% of Bolivians speaking it, Aymara is one of the oldest languages on the American continent. It is mainly spoken in the western and southern regions, particularly in the area around Lake Titicaca and cities like La Paz and Oruro.
• Chiquitano: This language is spoken in the central part of the Santa Cruz department.
• Guarani: Spoken by 1% of the population in the southwestern part of the Santa Cruz department, specifically in the Chaco and Amazonian ethnic groups near the borders with Paraguay and Argentina.

Other indigenous languages recognised as official in Bolivia include Araona, Baure, Bésiro, Canichana, Cavineño, Cayubaba, Chácobo, Chimán, Ese Ejja, Guarasu'we, Guarayu, Itonama, Leco, Machineri, Maropa, Mojeño-Trinitario, Mojeño-Ignaciano, Moré, Mosetén, Movima, Pacaa, Puquina, Sirionó, Tacana, Tapiete, Toromona, Uru-Chipaya, Weenhayek, Yaminawa, Yuki, Yuracaré, and Zamuco.

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