Language Planning and Policy in Paraguay

Abstract

Paraguay is unique among the countries of the Americas in that nearly 90% of the largely non-indigenous population speaks an indigenous language, Guaraní. The majority of the country is also bilingual in Guaraní and Spanish. Since the end of Stroessner's 35 years of dictatorship in 1989, Paraguay has made significant progress in language planning and policy within a more democratic framework. An initiative to implement universal, two-way bilingual education in Guaraní and Spanish has resulted in the widespread, if still somewhat limited, use of Guaraní in the classroom. Despite disagreement over the purism of textbook Guaraní, the programme has been received positively by parents, students, and teachers. As documented in a recent report on human rights in Paraguay (United States Department of State, 2000), the situation of indigenous populations is precarious. Their survival will depend not only on more clearly articulated language policy that upholds their linguistic rights, but as well on support by the government of other basic human rights, such as preventive medical care and land reform.

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