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Indigenous Language Usage and Maintenance Patterns among Indigenous People in the Era of Neoliberal Multiculturalism in Mexico and Guatemala

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2022

Hirotoshi Yoshioka
Hirotoshi Yoshioka*
Affiliation:
University of Texas at Austin
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Abstract

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In both Mexico and Guatemala, indigenous languages are at risk of extinction. Because languages influence people's ways of thinking and help them identify with particular ethnic groups, indigenous language loss can result in severe problems that extend well beyond the demise of these languages. Although current multicultural reforms offer indigenous people unprecedented opportunities, these seemingly positive changes may actually threaten indigenous languages and cultures. Using the latest demographic census data, I present how socioeconomic, demographic, and community factors negatively correlate with indigenous language usage. I contend that indigenous language maintenance will become more difficult because neoliberal multiculturalism endorses indigenous cultural rights without putting forth other necessary changes. Establishing effective language preservation strategies requires us to recognize dangers hidden in the current multicultural agenda, to rigorously ask how we can destigmatize negative images attached to indigenous cultures, and to combat centuries-long oppression and discrimination against indigenous groups.

Resumo

Resumo

Tanto en México como en Guatemala, las lenguas indígenas están actualmente en peligro de extinción. Dado que las lenguas influyen la forma de pensar y ayudan a las personas a identificarse con grupos étnicos específicos, la pérdida de lenguas indígenas puede resultar en severos problemas que van más allá de la desaparición de esas lenguas. Aunque las reformas multiculturales actuales les ofrecen a los pueblos indígenas oportunidades sin precedentes, estos cambios que parecen aparentemente positivos pueden amenazar a las lenguas y culturas indígenas. Utilizando datos de los censos más recientes, presento cómo factores socioeconómicos, demográficos y de las comunidades correlacionan negativamente con el uso de lenguas indígenas. Argumento que el mantenimiento de lenguas indígenas se hará más difícil ya que el multiculturalismo neoliberal apoya los derechos culturales indígenas sin llevar a cabo los cambios necesarios. El establecimiento de estrategias efectivas de preservación de lenguas exige que reconozcamos los peligros ocultos en el proyecto multicultural, que nos preguntemos rigorosamente como podemos desestigmatizar las imágenes negativas atribuidas a las culturas indígenas y que combatamos la opresión y discriminación seculares de los grupos indígenas.

Type
Research Article
Information
Latin American Research Review , Volume 45 , Issue 3 , 2010 , pp. 5 - 34
Copyright
Copyright © 2010 by the Latin American Studies Association

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