What's the difference between an Indigenous language and a non-Indigenous language? What makes Indigenous languages unique?
Both are valid forms of communication, however, they are worlds apart.
Indigenous languages are deeply intertwined with the cultural, historical, and environmental contexts of the communities that speak them, reflecting their traditions, beliefs, and connection to the land. Rich in specialized vocabulary related to their local environments and societies, they provide insight into the role that language plays in shaping indigenous identity.
In this blog, we're exploring the unique characteristics of Indigenous languages, their historical significance, and their role in Indigenous communities.
What Makes A Language Indigenous
There are over 4,000 indigenous languages spoken in the world today, but speakers of those languages account for just under 6% of the global population. This means that the vast majority of individuals on the planet do not speak an Indigenous language, but of the world’s over 7,000 documented languages still in existence, the majority of those are considered Indigenous languages.
Indigenous languages are those spoken by the native inhabitants of a particular geographic area before colonization or with heavy influence from another language or culture. We want to emphasize that these communities and their languages are long-established in their regions, existing well before modern borders and colonialism, and have developed over millennia. Speakers of Indigenous languages have often suffered decimation, discrimination, and worse from colonial powers.
Only until relatively recently have many countries begun to officially recognize indigenous languages. Among the leading examples are Bolivia, which recognized all 36 of its Indigenous languages as official state languages in 2009, and Guatemala, which recognized its 24 indigenous languages as national languages in 2003.
Indigenous languages are not typically used in schools, businesses, or governments, and have historically been looked down upon by speakers of non-Indigenous languages. Many were prohibited from being spoken in public in certain countries under colonialism, including within the United States.
An Indigenous language is deeply intertwined with its community's customs, culture, and identity. For the communities that speak them, they often have deep historical roots and hold immense cultural and social value. For the most part, they are spoken by comparatively fewer people, and many are at risk of extinction.
Although many Indigenous languages are predominantly passed down orally, many once had vibrant writing systems that were intentionally destroyed by colonial forces to suppress Indigenous populations, such as the Maya codices. Following generations of oppression, marginalization, and even genocide and ethnic cleansing, Indigenous languages today are usually poorly documented or disappearing altogether.
Indigenous languages usually also contain a wide range of context-specific vocabulary and terms associated with their environments as well as their community’s traditional practices and belief systems. The deep connection to the land is one of the most important factors that set Indigenous languages apart from other languages, often having specific terms for certain geographical elements or environmental characteristics found in their homelands.
Maya Bridge - A Leading Advocate For Indigenous Language Access In The U.S.
Since 2021, Maya Bridge Language Services has been advocating for increased access for speakers of Mayan and other Latin American and global indigenous languages here in the United States. Maya Bridge is a mission-driven, niche interpretation agency offering 24/7 on-demand services for over 60 indigenous languages from Latin America, as well as African, Asian, Pacific Island, Native American and other indigenous languages.
We have worked diligently to mobilize, train, and evaluate a network of hundreds of interpreters both in the US and throughout the world to ensure that speakers of Indigenous languages can fully understand and be understood in important situations like healthcare, legal settings, in disaster and emergency response scenarios, and in receiving access to government programs.
Contact us to schedule a meeting or call us anytime, day or night, at (801) 753-8568.
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