Original version

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

Witness History

Podcasts

Factual: Life Stories

Factual: History

History as told by the people who were there

History as told by the people who were there.

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service News Internet

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

Witness History: Paraguay adopts its second language

Documentaries

Paraguay blocks.jpg

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)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Witness History

Paraguay adopts its second language

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

About BBC World Service