Languages of Bolivia
The languages of Bolivia include Spanish, at least 30 indigenous languages, most prominently Quechua, Aymara, and Tupi Guaraní, and other languages such as Plautdietsch spoken by descendants of immigrants. All of the indigenous languages and Spanish are official languages of the state according to the 2009 Constitution. Spanish and Quechua are spoken primarily in the Andes region; Aymara is mainly spoken in the Altiplano around Lake Titicaca, and Guarani in the southeast on the border with Paraguay.
List of languages
All of the following languages are spoken in Bolivia:
- Araona
- Aymara
- Ayoreo
- Baure
- Callahuaya/Callawalla/Kallawaya
- Canichana
- Cavineña
- Cayubaba
- Chiquitano
- Guaraní
- Iñapari
- Itonama
- Leco
- Machiguenga
- Movima
- Moxos
- Pacahuara
- Plautdietsch
- Puquina language
- Quechua variants
- Reyesano
- Saraveca
- Sirionó
- Spanish. See also Bolivian Spanish
- Tacana
- Tapieté
- Toromona
- Uru-Chipaya: See Chipaya, Uru
- Western Argentine Guaraní
- Wichí Lhamtés Nocten
- Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz
- Yaminawa
- Yuracaré
Demographics
| Language | people | percent |
|---|---|---|
| Quechua | 2,281,198 | 25.08 % |
| Aymara | 1,525,321 | 16.77 % |
| Guaraní | 62,575 | 0.69 % |
| Another native | 49,432 | 0.54 % |
| Spanish | 6,821,626 | 75.01 % |
| Foreign | 250,754 | 2.76 % |
| Only native | 960,491 | 10.56 % |
| Native and Spanish | 2,739,407 | 30.12 % |
| Spanish and foreign | 4,115,751 | 45.25 % |
| Only Spanish | 4,082,219 | 44.89 % |
| All native | 3,918,526 | 43.09 % |
Official status
The 2009 Constitution specifies the following languages as official: Castillian Spanish, Aymara, Araona, Baure, Bésiro (Chiquitano), Canichana, Cavineño, Cayubaba, Chácobo, Chimán, Ese Ejja, Guaraní, Guarasu’we, Guarayu, Itonama, Leco, Machajuyaikallawaya (Kallawaya), Machineri (Machiguenga), Maropa, Mojeño-Trinitario, Mojeño-Ignaciano, Moré, Mosetén (Tsimane'), Movima, Pacawara (Pacahuara), Puquina, Quechua, Sirionó, Tacana, Tapiete, Toromona, Uru-Chipaya, Weenhayek (Wichí Lhamtés Nocten, Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz), Yaminawa, Yuki, Yuracaré and Zamuco (Ayoreo). The Bolivian government and the departmental governments are also required to use at least two languages in their operation, while smaller-scale autonomous governments must also use two, including Spanish.[1]
Following the National Education Reform of 1994, all thirty indigenous languages were introduced alongside Spanish in the country's schools.[2] However, many schools did not implement the reforms, especially urban schools.
See also
References
- ^ Nueva Constitución Política Del Estado, Aprobada en grande, detalle y revisión. December 2007, article 5.
- ^ Hornberger, Nancy. 1997. Language policy, language education, language rights: Indigenous, immigrant, and international perspectives. Language in Society 27:443. Retrieved on April 28, 2009.
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