Chana speaker appear after language was thought to be extinct

In a surprising turn of events, a man named Blas Jaime has emerged to announce that he has spent nearly twenty years learning and reviving Chana, the language of the indigenous Chana people in Argentina. After being believed extinct with no remaining speakers.

The Chana people, who inhabited Argentina and Uruguay, had a profound connection with the Paraná River, the second-longest river in South America. They held silence in high regard and revered birds as their guardians, according to the New York Times.

Chana speaker appear after language was thought to be extinct

Over the years, the Chana people faced displacement campaigns, resulting in shrinking lands and a declining population as they integrated with other communities in what would become Argentina. Military campaigns were also conducted to eradicate indigenous communities and make room for settlers from other parts of the world.

Working closely with Jaime, who is now 89 years old, linguist Pedro Vegas Barros has collaborated to publish a dictionary featuring Chana myths, rituals, and roughly 1000 words from the language. According to UNESCO, over 2600 languages worldwide faced extinction in 2016, amounting to approximately 40% of all languages spoken. Such data emphasizes the significance of Jaime’s efforts in revitalizing his people’s language.

Serena Heckler, a program specialist at the UNESCO Regional Office in Montevideo, Uruguay, praised Jaime’s work, stating that revitalizing a language after it has disappeared is exceedingly rare and crucial. She emphasized that efforts to save endangered languages have become incredibly challenging, especially considering the historical oppression faced by indigenous communities during colonial times.

Currently, Jaime’s daughter Evangelina, aged 46, is teaching Chana to numerous students worldwide, including academics. She firmly states, “We have endured generations of silence, but we refuse to be silent any longer.”

Blas Jaime’s dedication and the subsequent efforts by him and his daughter serve as an inspiration to fight for the survival of endangered languages globally.