Speech Therapy

So many of our readings have dealt with the idea of identity. There have been a number of ideas and opinions tossed around when it comes to Indianess or Mayaness in Guatemala. The constant question is how and in what areas of life can the indigenous people maintain their traditional ways of life? Where can new concepts and ideas fit in Maya communities? Or can they? The ideas of transnationalism and syncretism are ubiquitous themes in many of the selections. A Dialogue of Indianess is no different. The historical-structural approach is a wonderful summation of the fact that ideas past, present, and future play a role in shaping one's identity. Depending on the context, certain aspects of a people are bound to change. I completely agree with the argument that Hall makes that "identity is always a matter of 'becoming' as well as of 'being' (159). Very few living things are static. There is always some type of movement or adjustment that makes life a time of 'becoming'. The idea of change can be related to transnationalism and syncretism. New ideas may not always be welcomed with open arms, but some ideas certainly have the potential to provide a means for development while not tampering with the established identity too much.

One thing that really struck me about the Indianess reading was the argument concerning the knowledge of the Spanish language. One opinion that I can certainly relate to is that of mindset. The speaker, a former member of PLANTAS, makes that case that language isn't the only thing that displays one's identity. The mindset and the heart are also very important aspects to one's identity. I certainly agree with this statement as it similar to my situation. In my everyday life, I speak the language that allows me to best communicate with my peers and others. However, my mindset is always Jamaican. If I were to constantly try to express my identity, specifically through language, it would be very difficult to communicate with others in my environment. My parents understood the importance of speaking the "language of power" in our context, English, and forced me to master it. The "language of power" for the Guatemala people, and many others, is obviously Spanish. The idea of preservation in terms of language is a really interesting one. "Spanish competence is seen as a more powerful tool for preserving indigenous identity (that is, for surviving) that the Mayanist focus on promoting indigenous language... (165).

As we have discussed a few times, the are so many different factions of the indigenous groups each with their own language. Spanish has the ability to connect the many different languages of of the various regions of Guatemala. Although, the indigenous people have feared 'forgetting' their language as a result of learning Spanish, there is still a very positive light to be shone on Spanish. The spanish language could ultimately be used as a unifying tool for the many different communities (166). Imagine if everyone committed to mastering the Spanish language. There would be barriers between peoples that could be removed in order to conduct business and spurn all types of development. All the while, I believe that the fear of 'loosing one's identity' is still very real. Is it really possible for the different communities to increase their interactions with various groups with varying traditions, yet still remain true to their own? How much of one's identity can be maintained by cultivating the right mindframe? Can Spanish or the acquisition of any 'language of power' really be a peoples' key to preserving one's identity? I am quite curious to see how area such as economic development would be effected as a result of a majority of indigenous people mastering Spanish. Perhaps, speech therapy could be a step in the right direction.