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Witness History: Paraguay adopts its second language

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13/03/2024 GMT

Paraguay adopts its second language

BBC World Service - Witness History, Paraguay adopts its second language

How Guarani was officially recognised in Paraguay’s new constitution

Paraguay’s official recognition of the indigenous language Guarani ended years of prejudice against its speakers.

In 1992, Guarani was designated an official language in Paraguay’s new constitution, alongside Spanish.

It is the only indigenous language of South America to have achieved such recognition and ended years of rejection and discrimination against Paraguay’s majority Guarani speakers.

Mike Lanchin hears from the Paraguayan linguist and anthropologist David Olivera, and even tries to speak a bit of the language.

A CTVC production for the BBC World Service.

(Photo: A man reads a book in Guarani. Credit: Norberto Duarte/AFP/Getty Images)

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