Day of Native Languages in Peru

Already since 1975 each year on May 27 Peru, a megadiverse country that unites multiple peoples and indigenous tribes, cultural traditions and languages within its borders, proudly celebrates the Day of Native Languages.

Before the Spanish conquest in the early 16th century an assumed 300 to 600 different languages were spoken in the area from which today only 47 registered native languages are left; about a quarter of these are in immediate danger of extinction, many others are only spoken by a dozen or so people.

Knowing about the importance of native languages especially for the identity of a person or community, for a few years now the Peruvian government tries hard to preserve the knowledge of indigenous languages and traditions. Next to celebrating the Day of the Native Language with exhibitions, speeches, shows and plays there are programs to encourage the usage of these native languages, to document as much as possible and even to work on dictionaries and grammar books with the last native speakers.