Movima - DOBES · 2013-02-18 · Movima is spoken in and around Santa Ana del Yacuma, a former...

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An isolated language of lowland Bolivia Movima Movima is one of the so‐called “isolated” languages of southern Amazonia: it does not seem to be genetically related to any other language. Griselda Cáumol, a Movima speaker who contributed a lot to our archive. (Photo S. Beuse, 2006) CONTACT ADDRESS Katharina Haude khaude@uni‐koeln.de, [email protected] Movima is spoken in and around Santa Ana del Yacuma, a former Jesuit mission, in lowland Bolivia (Beni department). Movima is in permanent contact with Spanish, the dominant language of the region, and this has put the language in serious danger of disappearing. There are still a few hundred Movima speakers, most over 60 years old. They all speak Spanish, and the younger generations speak Spanish only. A language of a former Jesuit mission A major goal of the project is to collect ma‐ terial that reflects the Movima feeling for identity. What is the cultural identity based on, if the documented history starts with the arrival of the Jesuits and nothing is known about the precolonial culture? The Movimas are faithful Catholics and strongly believe in the powers of their pat‐ ron saint, Santa Ana. Every year on Saint Anne's day (26 th of July), the village fiesta takes place, where the Movimas show the essentials of what represents their identity: they dress up in their traditional costumes and proudly speak their language — even those who do not do so in daily life. Cultural identity During the last ten years, the younger gen‐ erations have become acutely aware of the loss of their linguistic inheritance. Many ini‐ tiatives have started since to learn and teach the language, e.g. by creating Movima texts for schoolbooks. Our project has provided grammatical material that helps teachers to prepare their classes. Revitalization efforts Katharina Haude (University of Cologne/CNRS) Silke A. Beuse (Bonn University) Team Movima "Machetero" dancers during the procession for Santa Ana on the 26th of July. (Photo K. Haude, 2006) Cándida Chonore making a water jug. Like the language, also traditional handicraft is getting lost. (Photo S. Beuse, 2010) The statues of Santa Ana, her husband San Joaquín and her daughter Santa María entering the church at the patronal fiesta on the 26th of July. (Photo K. Haude, 2007) Movima speakers, from left to right: Jovina Amblo, Modesta Gualusna (her daughter), Etelvina Gualusna (her niece), Elias Ovales (a visitor). (Photo S. Beuse, 2006) Herlan Rojas (right), a major contributor to our archive, speaking Movima with a friend at his kitchen table. (Photo S. Beuse, 2010)

Transcript of Movima - DOBES · 2013-02-18 · Movima is spoken in and around Santa Ana del Yacuma, a former...

Page 1: Movima - DOBES · 2013-02-18 · Movima is spoken in and around Santa Ana del Yacuma, a former Jesuit mission, in lowland Bolivia (Beni department). Movima is in permanent contact

An isolated language of lowland BoliviaMovimaMovima is one of the so‐called “isolated”languages of southern Amazonia: it does notseem to be genetically related to any otherlanguage.

Griselda Cáumol, a Movima speaker who contributed a lot toour archive. (Photo S. Beuse, 2006)

CONTACT ADDRESSKatharina Haudekhaude@uni‐koeln.de, [email protected]

Movima is spoken in and around Santa Anadel Yacuma, a former Jesuit mission, inlowland Bolivia (Beni department). Movimais in permanent contact with Spanish, thedominant language of the region, and thishas put the language in serious danger ofdisappearing. There are still a few hundredMovima speakers, most over 60 years old.They all speak Spanish, and the youngergenerations speak Spanish only.

A language of a former Jesuit mission

A major goal of the project is to collect ma‐terial that reflects the Movima feeling foridentity. What is the cultural identity basedon, if the documented history starts withthe arrival of the Jesuits and nothing isknown about the precolonial culture?The Movimas are faithful Catholics andstrongly believe in the powers of their pat‐ron saint, Santa Ana. Every year on SaintAnne's day (26th of July), the village fiestatakes place, where the Movimas show theessentials of what represents their identity:they dress up in their traditional costumesand proudly speak their language — eventhose who do not do so in daily life.

Cultural identity

During the last ten years, the younger gen‐erations have become acutely aware of theloss of their linguistic inheritance. Many ini‐tiatives have started since to learn and teachthe language, e.g. by creating Movima textsfor schoolbooks. Our project has providedgrammatical material that helps teachers toprepare their classes.

Revitalization efforts

Katharina Haude (University of Cologne/CNRS)Silke A. Beuse (Bonn University)

Team

Movima "Machetero" dancers during the procession for SantaAna on the 26th of July. (Photo K. Haude, 2006)

Cándida Chonore making a water jug. Like the language, alsotraditional handicraft is getting lost. (Photo S. Beuse, 2010)

The statues of Santa Ana, her husband San Joaquín and her daughter Santa María entering the church at the patronal fiesta on the 26th of July.(Photo K. Haude, 2007)

Movima speakers, from left to right: Jovina Amblo, Modesta Gualusna (her daughter), Etelvina Gualusna (her niece), Elias Ovales (a visitor).(Photo S. Beuse, 2006)

Herlan Rojas (right), a major contributor to our archive,speaking Movima with a friend at his kitchen table.(Photo S. Beuse, 2010)