Guaraní is the native indigenous language spoken in Paraguay and probably areas of Brazil, Argentina, and Boliva that share borders with my beloved South American home. I think nearly all Paraguayans are bilingual, but I also know there are many people who don’t speak Spanish there, just Guaraní.
Kathy’s family speaks it as well. She says they speak jopará, which is a hacked version of Guaraní with a large Spanish influence. Mine’s gonna be even more of a jopará than hers, but I feel I’ve left out a bit of info.
I wanted to learn Guaraní in Paraguay, but I never took the chance. Then when I got back to the US I wanted to find a course, but they don’t exist. Through links from other blogs, I found a *great* site-slash-podcast to learn guaraní. Paulita is the best.
I’ve been studying for a few days, and Kathy is already talking to me more. I can’t understand much, but I at least know whether or not she’s talking about me or herself or someone else, and sometimes what the verb is and whether or not it’s past, present, or future. She says it’s coming along well! I’ve realized it’s going to be a pain to speak but a bit easier to understand. I don’t quite get how to form a sentence, but I can pick one apart. This online dictionary helps me figure out my verbs and nouns.
It’ll be a long road, but maybe if I make progress with Guaraní, she’ll be encouraged working on her English.
-j
ps> extra credit if you can use the links I provided to figure out what my subject is!
I'm Jason, and I like to write.