Siraya update

[MJ Hardman]

The Ministry of Education in Peru was informed by one 'linguist' that they
could write a primer and then translate it into all of the languages of the
nation (in the dozens if not hundreds), using the same pictures with only
minor adjustments for mountains and jungles and that it would be fine.  The
translations were literal.  I remember seeing those publications piled up
utterly unused but occupying enormous amounts of floor space.  The Min Ed
also attempted to have one universal alphabet, so, as one person put it, all
the languages would be mutually intelligible.  (they did say that!).  Some
groups who really do want bilingual education have revolted against this.
One such account can be read at
http://www.latam.ufl.edu/hardman/jaqaru/julio6.html.  One of the jungle
groups has also made a great deal of noise in rejecting the Min Ed
materials.

Meanwhile, the attempt to impose such materials does a lot of damage.  And,
like in Taiwan, the government can claim it is 'doing' bilingual education
and language conservation.

MJ

On 4/23/09 4:42 PM, "Chun Jimmy Huang" <huangc20 at UFL.EDU> wrote:

> No the colonists don't seem to perceive the meaning of
> "diversity," but they simply do things that make it look like they
> care. A university in Taiwan puts on this web page for "learning
> the indigenous languages." I browsed it and found that every
> lesson for every different language shares the same content. In
> lesson 1, the students stand up and bow to the teacher. It's
> Chinese Confucianism and has nothing to do with the Austronesian
> culture ("alchemy" indeed, Rolland). But still, the university
> gets to show off its "engagement with indigenous culture,
> singular".
> 
> Jimmy
> 
> On Thu Apr 23 16:03:33 EDT 2009, William J Poser
> <wjposer at LDC.UPENN.EDU> wrote:
> 
>> I think that the attitude of these university administrators was
>> basically that they didn't care about the native people and
>> didn't
>> want to go to much trouble to deal with them but felt a need to
>> make a show of political correctness. Sponsoring some "Indian"
>> activities without careful thought as to whose they were and
>> how to deal with the diversity of nations in the region is just
>> one example of this. Bill
>> 
>> 
>