Abstract

OSSOLA, María Macarena. Uses and Resignifications of Wichí and Spanish languages among Bilingual Undergraduate Youth (Salta, Argentina). Cuad. antropol. soc. [online]. 2018, n.47, pp.55-69. ISSN 1850-275X.

This paper presents the results of an anthropological investigation analyzing the use of Wichí and Spanish language among Wichí undergraduate university students in the province of Salta (Argentina). This study is based on the analysis of the Wichí undergraduates’ school trajectories, reconstructed from in-depth interviews where their linguistic experiences in formal education contexts are weighed. The relevance of this research is justified by the particular situation of the Wichí people: they present the lowest levels of schooling among the indigenous peoples of Argentina, and show the greatest vitality in the use of the indigenous language. In conclusion, the strengthening of their skills in the written use of both languages is linked to the redefinition of their intra and inter-ethnic ties.

Keywords : Indigenous people; Wichí youth; Languages usage; Schooling trajectories; University.

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