Bolivian Voices

Original in Spanish: ¿el modo de hablar puede unir o separar?
Translation in Aymara: Aski uñacht’äwi: Mä arsüwix jak’achistaspat jan ukax jaljtayistaspacha

Throughout my life, I have had the opportunity to visit many departments in my Bolivia; and even though the official language is Spanish, other languages are spoken, such as Aymara, Quechua and Guaraní, etc. In the case of Spanish, it is also divided into dialects depending on one’s place of origin.

I was lucky to be able to learn Quechua during one of my visits to Oruro, when I was 8 years old. But upon returning to Santa Cruz, my accent had changed. My cousins made fun of me, which made me forget that language altogether. I had to, in order to be a part of my social circle. Now I regret that I had forgotten that language, even though I am trying to learn once again, although it is turning out to be difficult. I would have liked for the government to have supported the use of our native languages.

My friends in Santa Cruz still make fun of me because of my accent, but now that I am older I am able to defend myself. When they hear my reasons, they become quiet, and even perhaps, embarrassed. This is what I believe in, and what I want. I hope that many other people change and learn to value our languages before they disappear.