Comments on: Indigenous languages of South America: Where to learn them and why you should http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/indigenous-languages-of-south-america-where-to-learn-them-and-why-you-should/ travel culture worldwide Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Camden Luxford http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/indigenous-languages-of-south-america-where-to-learn-them-and-why-you-should/#comment-41294 Camden Luxford Wed, 22 Dec 2010 02:08:22 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=5065#comment-41294 You know what, Ed? As soon as I started learning Quechua I decided everyone who told me it was easy was mad! Grammar, a walk in the park, but vocab a nightmare. I've had to put it to one side for a few months until I have the time to devote myself properly to it. You know what, Ed? As soon as I started learning Quechua I decided everyone who told me it was easy was mad! Grammar, a walk in the park, but vocab a nightmare. I’ve had to put it to one side for a few months until I have the time to devote myself properly to it.

]]> By: Ed http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/indigenous-languages-of-south-america-where-to-learn-them-and-why-you-should/#comment-41051 Ed Sat, 04 Dec 2010 07:57:51 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=5065#comment-41051 Quechua is quite easy to learn? Hmmm, I would disagree. I have studied Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Thai, and Lao (and a teeny bit of Italian, Galician, and Elvish) - and have found Quechua the most difficult of all. [I have studied primarily Salasacan Kichwa, Unified Ecuadorian Quichua, Otavaleño Quechua, Lowland Quechua (all in Ecuador), and Ayacuchano Quechua (Peruvian). I have some experience in Cuzqueño Quechua. I have almost no knowledge of Bolivian Quechua or the Quechua around Cajamarca.] Despite a regular grammar and feasible pronunciation, Quechua's ridiculous number and combinations of infixes make it very difficult to understand native speakers or to move past basic conversation. Add that to immense variation in dialects (at least equivalent to the variation between Thai and Lao or Spanish and Italian), and you will find that, even if they are able to speak Quechua, many non-native speakers need years to reach a reasonable level of fluency and listening comprehension. I highly recommend learning some Quechua for basic conversation and as an icebreaker, but moving beyond that requires years of dedication. Best of luck! Quechua is quite easy to learn? Hmmm, I would disagree.

I have studied Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Thai, and Lao (and a teeny bit of Italian, Galician, and Elvish) – and have found Quechua the most difficult of all. [I have studied primarily Salasacan Kichwa, Unified Ecuadorian Quichua, Otavaleño Quechua, Lowland Quechua (all in Ecuador), and Ayacuchano Quechua (Peruvian). I have some experience in Cuzqueño Quechua. I have almost no knowledge of Bolivian Quechua or the Quechua around Cajamarca.]

Despite a regular grammar and feasible pronunciation, Quechua’s ridiculous number and combinations of infixes make it very difficult to understand native speakers or to move past basic conversation. Add that to immense variation in dialects (at least equivalent to the variation between Thai and Lao or Spanish and Italian), and you will find that, even if they are able to speak Quechua, many non-native speakers need years to reach a reasonable level of fluency and listening comprehension.

I highly recommend learning some Quechua for basic conversation and as an icebreaker, but moving beyond that requires years of dedication. Best of luck!

]]> By: Brainrotting: Ep. 13 – Argentina, Ushuaia Ruta 40 http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/indigenous-languages-of-south-america-where-to-learn-them-and-why-you-should/#comment-40930 Brainrotting: Ep. 13 – Argentina, Ushuaia Ruta 40 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:50:01 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=5065#comment-40930 [...] covers a lot of distance through some of South America‘s epic wild places: Chile’s deserts, Argentina’s forests and Patagonia’s [...] [...] covers a lot of distance through some of South America‘s epic wild places: Chile’s deserts, Argentina’s forests and Patagonia’s [...]

]]> By: Brainrotting: Ep. 12 – Bolivia, Worlds Most Dangerous Road & Che Guevara http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/indigenous-languages-of-south-america-where-to-learn-them-and-why-you-should/#comment-40620 Brainrotting: Ep. 12 – Bolivia, Worlds Most Dangerous Road & Che Guevara Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:12:46 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=5065#comment-40620 [...] danger and Revolution. These are things that have characterized South America for centuries. The vibrant cultures that create these situations are a big part of what makes the [...] [...] danger and Revolution. These are things that have characterized South America for centuries. The vibrant cultures that create these situations are a big part of what makes the [...]

]]> By: “Who is the Wife?” Contemplating Gender Roles in Rural Paraguay http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/indigenous-languages-of-south-america-where-to-learn-them-and-why-you-should/#comment-40420 “Who is the Wife?” Contemplating Gender Roles in Rural Paraguay Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:55:49 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=5065#comment-40420 [...] hear Blanca and Antonio on the other side of the wall, whispering pillow talk in their indigenous language of Guaraní. My first thoughts are about how cold I am and I’m slightly irritated that I am awake [...] [...] hear Blanca and Antonio on the other side of the wall, whispering pillow talk in their indigenous language of Guaraní. My first thoughts are about how cold I am and I’m slightly irritated that I am awake [...]

]]> By: Camden Luxford http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/indigenous-languages-of-south-america-where-to-learn-them-and-why-you-should/#comment-39270 Camden Luxford Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:22:30 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=5065#comment-39270 Any excuse will do, Heather! @Ayngelina - I think that's a great idea. The people unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of my appalling Quechua are all thrilled I'm learning. Following your travels with interest, by the way, keep having a great time! Any excuse will do, Heather!

@Ayngelina – I think that’s a great idea. The people unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of my appalling Quechua are all thrilled I’m learning. Following your travels with interest, by the way, keep having a great time!

]]> By: ayngelina http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/indigenous-languages-of-south-america-where-to-learn-them-and-why-you-should/#comment-39114 ayngelina Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:36:00 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=5065#comment-39114 What a great post, I've been struggling to learn Spanish as I travel through Latin America but it never occurred to me to also pick up some of the indigenous languages. But I think I may try to at least pick up some phrases to be respectful as I don't want to assume they'll interact in Spanish. What a great post, I’ve been struggling to learn Spanish as I travel through Latin America but it never occurred to me to also pick up some of the indigenous languages.

But I think I may try to at least pick up some phrases to be respectful as I don’t want to assume they’ll interact in Spanish.

]]> By: Heather Carreiro http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/indigenous-languages-of-south-america-where-to-learn-them-and-why-you-should/#comment-39093 Heather Carreiro Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:11:39 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=5065#comment-39093 Haha. That means you'll just need to write <em>another</em> article covering some more languages! Haha. That means you’ll just need to write another article covering some more languages!

]]> By: Camden Luxford http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/indigenous-languages-of-south-america-where-to-learn-them-and-why-you-should/#comment-39092 Camden Luxford Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:11:53 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=5065#comment-39092 @Neha - no problem! And wow, I could've written on and on... so many fascinating languages down here but the dreaded word limit (curse you Heather! :) ) meant I had to restrict myself to the big three. It is a beautiful word, isn´t it? I love the sound of all three of them. @Pastore - my pleasure, I'm glad you enjoyed the post! I'm getting more and more fascinated by language the more I learn. I can't believe how excited I am to get into Quechua, and especially to head out into the communities and use it. As you say, it's such an amazingly different worldview, it'll be a great challenge wrapping my head around it. @Neha – no problem! And wow, I could’ve written on and on… so many fascinating languages down here but the dreaded word limit (curse you Heather! :) ) meant I had to restrict myself to the big three. It is a beautiful word, isn´t it? I love the sound of all three of them.

@Pastore – my pleasure, I’m glad you enjoyed the post! I’m getting more and more fascinated by language the more I learn. I can’t believe how excited I am to get into Quechua, and especially to head out into the communities and use it. As you say, it’s such an amazingly different worldview, it’ll be a great challenge wrapping my head around it.

]]> By: Pastore Riel http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/indigenous-languages-of-south-america-where-to-learn-them-and-why-you-should/#comment-39225 Pastore Riel Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:11:03 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=5065#comment-39225 Thanks for this thought provoking article. I love languages, and appreciate what you said about its connection to understanding a culture. There are so many things you can tell about thought patterns and point of view based on the building blocks of a language. I just spent hours reading more on Quechua and Aymara and found it fascinating how the concept of self and time can be contrasted with the western view of future forward past behind. To think of pointing forward for the past and motioning behind you for the future was interesting, until you understand how the past has been seen, but the future is still coming. Thanks again for this thought provoking post! Thanks for this thought provoking article. I love languages, and appreciate what you said about its connection to understanding a culture. There are so many things you can tell about thought patterns and point of view based on the building blocks of a language. I just spent hours reading more on Quechua and Aymara and found it fascinating how the concept of self and time can be contrasted with the western view of future forward past behind. To think of pointing forward for the past and motioning behind you for the future was interesting, until you understand how the past has been seen, but the future is still coming. Thanks again for this thought provoking post!

]]>