My time in Paraguay and Brasil has confirmed how integral language is to a country’s culture and identity. Interestingly, Paraguay is the only bilingual country in Latin America. Almost all Paraguayans speak Spanish and Guarani; nevertheless, more Paraguayans speak only Guarani than only Spanish. This language dichotomy is extremely atypical of Latin America, wherein Spanish generally prevails and hundreds of distinct indigenous languages are spoken throughout fringe communities. In many countries like Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, this language division at once helps indigenous communities preserve their unique culture while also excluding them from the privileges and social recognition conferred to mainstream society. Although concerted government programs have produced strides in alleviating indigenous poverty, the vast majority of indigenous communities remain etched in poverty, malnourished, and excluded from decent health services.
Paraguay is a fascinating case study because the rich and poor alike speak Guarani. From primary school, all students are taught Guarani and Spanish concurrently. Although Spanish remains the predominate language of business, diplomacy, and higher education, Guarani is the informal language used between friends on a daily basis. Beyond being a primary language, Guarani is of profound cultural significance, and represents an important pillar of Paraguayan identity. While conversing with a Paraguayan economist last week, he raised an interesting point that Paraguay has a unique opportunity to harness the country’s bilingual nature to implement effective economic policies to alleviate poverty. Sadly, it appears the country has yet to capitalize on the potentially equalizing power of the Spanish-Guarani language dynamic, as Paraguay retains the title of the most unequal country in Latin America- not a small feat in the most unequal continent in the world.
Brasil: Portuguese
Besides the Guayanas, Brazil is the only country in Latin America that does not speak Spanish. Although similar in many respects, Portuguese and Spanish are entirely separate entities. Thus, while someone who speaks Spanish can probably read Portuguese they are unlikely to be able to understand or communicate in Portuguese without prior language instruction. As the dominant political and economic force on the continent, Brazil’s distinct language, among other factors, inadvertently produces some regional pushback to Brazil’s ascendance. Moreover, given Brazil’s immense size and economic weight, many Brazilians feel no need to learn Spanish and expect others to learn Portuguese for business and travel purposes. In fact, many Brazilians I conversed with had a feeling of Portuguese language superiority to Spanish and would not speak Spanish. It was far more likely to find Brazilians conversant in English; I found that most Brazilians felt a general inclination to learn English, and many already spoke a bit. This is relatively unsurprising given Brazil’s increasing involvement in international affairs and global markets. For foreigners seeking to do business in Brazil, it is becoming increasingly necessary to become conversant in Portuguese, and similarly, for Brazilians to become conversant in English.
What language means to me
My experience with languages has made me forever grateful to my parents for enrolling me in bilingual public school from an early age. As studies have shown, it is much easier to develop a facility for language when learned from childhood. Moreover, I am a firm believer that learning multiple languages stretches your brain and makes you think in new ways. For instance, you quickly learn that there is no translation for certain words and that a word's meaning is often shaped by unique cultural specific contexts. Additionally, you take on a distinct personality with each language. Sometimes language facility or lack thereof can force you into unfamiliar terrain- listening instead of speaking, planning sentences beforehand rather than saying the first thing that comes to mind, or shedding all hesitation in an unabashed attempt to convey ideas.
Now that I’ve begun a serious study of Portuguese and am fairly conversant, I can attest to the power of learning more than two languages. For many years I felt very proud to say I was fluent in Spanish, especially given that for many Americans this is a feat. I then began to meet Europeans who spoke upwards of three languages with ease, and started to question the extent of my accomplishment. Learning Portuguese has been an eye opening experience for me. With a repertoire of three languages that I can apply to any situation, I realize that sometimes one language is better for describing a desired message. For me, English is the best language to convey complex political, economic, and sociological ideas; Spanish is best used to describe intense emotions and romance; while Portuguese is the uncontested winner for conveying beauty and dreams.
No comments:
Post a Comment