| The official language of Bolivia is Spanish. Most
businesses and school classes are conducted in Spanish. However, Spanish
speakers in Bolivia usually speak at least one indigenous language as well.
More than 55% of the population speak either Quechua or Aymara.
Spanish is a fairly formal language. For instance,
there are two ways of saying "you." When someone is talking to an older
person or a stranger, they use the formal pronoun ústed instead
of the more informal tú. In the highlands, Spanish is spoken
slowly and precisely. In the lowlands, it is spoken more quickly, and sometimes
the endings of words are not pronounced. |
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| Aymara was spoken in Bolivia before the land was
conquered by the Incas. Quechua was the language of the Incas. Originally,
these languages had no written form. Now both languages are written down
and there are Aymara and Quechua newspapers. Several Aymara and Quechua
words and expressions are used in Bolivian Spanish. These words include
inti, which means "sun" in both Aymara and Quechua, and tata,
which means "father" or "old man." Both Aymara and Quechua also include
many Spanish words. The language spoken in the town of Cochabamba mixes
Quechua and Spanish. |
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Did you know? |
| Bolivia's
indigenous languages incorporate new ideas in creative ways. For instance,
the Quechuan word for airplane, latapisco, literally means "metal
bird." |
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| In the Amazon region, the indigenous
languages include Chiquitano, Guaraní, Chiriguano, Guayrayu and
Tsimané. Some of these languages are spoken by fewer than one hundred
people and are in danger of becoming extinct. A great deal of knowledge
and a unique way of seeing the world are lost each time a language becomes
extinct.
Bolivians value hospitality and personal
contact. They tend to have a relaxed view of time. When they are talking
with someone, they feel it is important to finish the conversation, even
if this makes them late for an appointment. Greetings are also important.
When Bolivians come to a party, they will usually greet each guest individually.
Women usually kiss on the cheek while clasping hands. Men usually shake
hands. If the men are close friends, they may shake hands, embrace and
then shake hands again. |
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|
English |
Spanish |
| Hi |
Hola |
| Good morning/good
day |
Buenos días |
| I am fine, thank
you |
Estoy bien, gracías |
| Please |
Por favor |
| Thank you very much |
Muchas gracías |
| You are welcome |
De nada |
| My name is... |
Me llamo... |
| Pleased to meet you |
Mucho gusto |
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