April 14, 2018 Professor Amerigo Mendoza-Mori, Quechua Language Program, University of Pennsylvania: “Quechua beyond the Incas: Contemporary use, promotion and teaching of Indigenous Languages”
As the Inca Empire’s official language, Quechua was thriving when the Spanish arrived to South America during the 16th century. Since then, for different political and social reasons, the number of speakers declined and Quechua is currently considered an endangered language by UNESCO.Currently, many initiatives are currently promoting the Quechua Language and Andean culture within the academic and community spheres, and therefore, allowing us to highlight points of view that have been forgotten or overlooked. We will discuss the importance of Indigenous Languages planning and revitalization, and how these initiatives can collaborate in the promotion of a more diverse education system. Américo Mendoza-Mori teaches Spanish and Quechua at the University of Pennsylvania. He is co-editor of Panel A-L: Reflexiones sobre literatura y discursos de América Latina (2011). His most recent peer-reviewed article is “Quechua Language Programs in the United States: Cultural Hubs for Indigenous Cultures” (2017).