LASA/EANLAS: Rethinking Trans-Pacific Ties: Asia and Latin America

Multilingualism, Education and Indigeneity in Mexico and Indonesia

• In Event: Dialogue and comparison: the global South and common issues

Abstract

Latin America and Southeast Asia are regions in which a great diversity of languages coexist, whether native languages, languages of migrant populations, as well as the presence of foreign languages used mainly for commerce and tourism, such as English. During the 20th century, governments in both latitudes have implemented different linguistic policies to consolidate nation-states, while so far in the 21st century different civil organizations and academics have warned about the vertiginous extinction of languages around the world and have undertaken educational projects that seek to strengthen the revitalization of languages. In Latin America, linguistic diversity has been related to the population considered indigenous and the problem of extinction has been attributed to cultural displacement and schooling. Whereas in Southeast Asia language diversity does not seem so closely linked to the notion of indigeneity.
From my research experience in Mexico and my recent inquiries on Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries, I reflect on the language policies that have been implemented by different governments. From this reflection, I question how the category of "indigenous" is used and conceptualized to designate languages and population groups in regions characterized by multilingualism and how this category is linked to educational projects that consider the diversity of languages.

Author

• Susana Ayala, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN