If you were walking down a street in Asuncion, Paraguay, one afternoon, you might hear something like this: “Mba’éichapa nde ka’aru?” This is a greeting in a language totally unlike the Spanish you studied in school. They are speaking Paraguayan Guaraní, the native language of the Guaraní people, which is now spoken in Paraguay and some parts of the northern region of Argentina. Paraguay is the only country in the Americas where an official Native language has persisted in the majority of the population, with about 70% of people aged 5 or older speaking Guaraní daily.
Language as Identity
Guaraní came from Paraguay’s unique colonial history, developed from the mix of regional indigenous languages, mainly from the Guaraní people who inhabited the region and Spanish. Rather than being suppressed like many indigenous languages, colonial and religious leaders like the Jesuit missionaries actively utilized Guaraní.
Over time, Guaraní became a symbol of national identity and of resistance, especially during conflicts like the War of the Triple Alliance. As many men were killed during the conflict, the women passed the language on to their children to differentiate from the invaders. As with any symbol of resistance, it was not well seen during Paraguay’s dictatorship from 1954 to 1989. It was seen as “uncultured” and not socially acceptable, but was still carried on through generations, being taught behind closed doors.
Regions where Guaraní is spoken
Credit: Fobos92, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Guaraní has been an official language in Paraguay alongside Spanish since 1992. Paraguay has also had a bilingual education system since 1987, so children have learned in both Guaraní and Spanish since elementary school. Today, it’s heard in government offices, schools, pop music, and on the soccer field. According to national surveys, over two-thirds of Paraguayans speak Guaraní at home or in daily life, either exclusively or mixed with Spanish. One study showed that about 31.6% of Paraguayans are Guaraní-only speakers, 36.7% are bilingual, and only about 29% speak only Spanish. Because it is so widely spoken, the government’s 2010 Languages Law requires all public officials to learn Guaraní, and all official publications and services must have a Guaraní version to reach the public.
Power is Spoken
The contrast with other Latin American countries is noticeable. Quechua, for instance, was once the administrative language of the Inca Empire in the region we now know as Peru, and today it is an official language in Peru and Bolivia. Yet, in Peru, only about 13 to 14% of the population speaks Quechua as their first language, and only about 2% speak Aymara. In Bolivia, where constitutionally there are 37 recognized indigenous languages, Spanish is spoken by roughly 70% of the population, while Quechua and Aymara account for about 18% and 10% respectively.
The main reason that the numbers of use are so different from Paraguay is that Spanish remains the language of power in these societies. Neither of these countries has incorporated the indigenous languages as mandatory for schools, which makes access to them more tricky. Many indigenous families internalized the notion that Spanish was the ticket to social mobility; if everything is done in Spanish, this becomes the language of power and social acceptance. Thus, Quechua came to be seen as “an archaic language spoken by ‘Indians,’” and it stopped being passed down to children.
Indigenous languages by country in Latin America
Credit: World Bank via AS/COA
Diversity of Language, Preservation of Culture
Guaraní in Paraguay shows how institutional regulation and people’s resilience can help sustain a language across generations. Guaraní is not just “preserved,” as if it were a statue in a museum. It is lived. Challenges remain, such as unequal digital access in the language or educational gaps, especially in urban schools that still prioritize Spanish. Yet, Paraguay offers a roadmap on how to naturally integrate indigenous languages and enrich the country’s culture.
Credit: FrankOWeaver, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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