Multilingualism in Brazil
It is increasingly threatened as more and more languages disappear.
In our increasingly diverse societies, it is essential to ensure harmonious interaction among people and groups with plural, varied and dynamic cultural identities as well as their willingness to live together.
Languages and Culture
Constituting an essential part of an ethnic community, the mother language is a carrier of values and knowledge, often used in the practice and transmission of intangible cultural heritage. The spoken word in the mother language is important in the enactment and transmission of virtually all intangible heritage, especially in oral traditions and expressions, songs and most rituals. Using their mother tongue, bearers of specific traditions often use highly specialized sets of terms and expressions, which reveal the intrinsic depth of oneness between the mother tongue and the intangible cultural heritage.
Of the 5 thousand languages in the world are spoken by Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous languages in Brazil
Of the Indigenous members aged 5 or above speak Portuguese in Brazil
of the Indigenous members aged 5 or above speak an Indigenous language in Brazil
Languages and Communication
Increasingly, information and knowledge are critical determinants of wealth creation, social transformation and human development. Language is a primary vector for communicating information and knowledge. Thus the opportunity to use one’s language on the Internet will determine the extent to which one can participate in emerging knowledge societies.
International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022-2032)
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022-2032) to draw global attention to the critical situation of many indigenous languages and to mobilize stakeholders and resources for their preservation, revitalization and promotion. It aims to ensure Indigenous Peoples’ right to preserve, revitalize and promote their languages and mainstream linguistic diversity and multilingualism aspects into sustainable development efforts.
Official Opening Ceremony of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages in Brazil
Languages and Education
UNESCO promotes mother tongue-based bilingual or multilingual approaches in education - an important factor for inclusion and equality. Research shows this has a positive impact on teaching and learning outcomes. The Organization provides normative frameworks for language policy and education and shares good practices in bilingual and multilingual education and mother-tongue instruction.
From 2012-2014, UNESCO in Brazil developed a four-volume series of bilingual publications on preventive Education for STD/HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis among Indigenous Peoples from Vale do Javari in the Brazilian Amazonian region.
COVID-19 videos with Brazil’s Indigenous groups
Preparing the COVID-19 prevention videos was done according to the intercultural dialogue and participatory methodology. It involved seven indigenous ethnic groups from Amazonas and Roraima states (Brazil). They present the videos in their maternal languages: Wapichan, Ticuna, Yanomami, Ye'kwana, Macuxi and Taurepang.
Videos on health education in Warao language
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