Traditional language, traditional culture (original) (raw)

Abstract

Over 350 languages are spoken in greater Amazonia. However, this remarkable diversity is being threatened by large-scale language shift mainly towards Spanish and Portuguese. Coupled with the fact that most languages have small speaker numbers to begin with, the result is that languages are being lost at a staggering rate. The Jivaroan language family, of eastern Ecuador and northern Peru, is an exception to this trend. With over 170,000 speakers and continued transmission to younger generations, all five Jivaroan languages are amongst the most vital in Amazonia. In this seminar, we will discuss issues related to language maintenance despite potentially adverse conditions in two Jivaroan languages: Shiwiar and Aguaruna. Common topics will include pressure from the colonial language Spanish, multilingual practices, and maintenance of traditional knowledge and cultural identity alongside traditional languages. 1. Martin Kohlberger: Embracing diversity: Language and identity in contact Shiwiar is the smallest Jivaroan language, spoken by just over 1,200 people in Ecuador and Peru. Because of their geographic isolation, Shiwiar speakers have not had the same level of contact with Spanish speakers that the other Jivaroan languages have. On the other hand, it is unique amongst the Jivaroan languages because of its well-established contact situation with other indigenous languages (notably Northern Pastaza Kichwa). In order to put this contact scenario into context, some parallels in other parts of Amazonia will be explored. The role of identity in preserving the vitality of Shiwiar will then be discussed. Finally, some observations will be made about the positive outlook of language maintenance amongst the Shiwiar despite increasing contact with Spanish. Aguaruna is spoken in Peru by about 55,000 people. Although it is closely related to Shiwiar, the two languages have had quite different experiences of colonialism. Well-established contacts with mainstream Peruvian society and a bilingual education program have resulted in widespread knowledge of Spanish among Aguaruna speakers, but the language remains vital and is widely used in indigenous communities. In this talk I focus on the role of traditional Aguaruna stories as repositories of traditional knowledge, and the lexical, grammatical and rhetorical effects of the relationship. This leads to a discussion of genre endangerment even in the absence of language endangerment.

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