Beyond the Norm: Ethical Issues of Coexistence with Language Minorities

The language situation in each of the four Mercosur countries - Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, & Uruguay - is reviewed in light of provisions for language minorities, or the lack thereof, in the constitution & laws of each nation. It is noted that Paraguay has made comparatively long strides in securing the language rights of Guarani speakers, & the coveted EU double passport has reversed the stigmatization of European immigrant languages in Brazil. Although linguists strive for the preservation of language diversity, minorities are not to be placed in zoo-like reserves for protection against presumed dangers of modern society; linguists who demand that the state take responsibility for minorities must stand ready to contribute in cooperation with local teachers, priests, administrators, & minority speakers & to assume the fundamental role of the linguist, that of integrating technical possibilities with what is psychologically acceptable to minority language speakers. J. Hitchcock