I was just having a go at translating bits of the new Bolivian constitution into English, as you do, when I was struck by the lengthy and impressive inclusion of all of Bolivia’s indigenous languages, totalling 37 – which, I gather from Ned Thomas of the Mercator Institute (interesting blog here), is about the same as the number of small or minority languages spoken across the whole of Europe.
Article 5. The official languages of the State are Spanish and all the languages of indigenous and peasant First Nations and peoples, which are: Aymara, Araona, Baure, Bésiro, Canichana, Cavineño, Cayubaba, Chácobo, Chimán, Ese, Ejja, Guaraní, Guarasu’we, Guarayu, Itonama, Leco, Machajuyai-Kallawaya, Machineri, Maropa, Mojeño-Trinitario, Mojeño-Ignaciano, Moré, Mosetén, Movima, Pacawara, Puquina, Quechua, Sirionó, Tacana, Tapiete, Toromona, Uru-Chipaya, Weenhayek, Yaminawa, Yuki, Yuracaré and Zamuco.
Whew!
Really whew! Flies me to so much colors, rythms, recipees and of course Feasts! That’s Bolivia…
Hey! Thanks for the flavour of life…
woot
Err….. not quite factually accurate. From the Mercator webiste http://www.mercator-research.eu/minority-languages/facts-figures :
Number of minority languages in Europe
Taking the official definition of the language charter into account, there are approximately 60 minority languages in Europe. There are however many more, for example the German minorities which are widely spread around Europe.