Language and literacy abilities in Qom/Toba children: A bilingual digital programme within a sociocultural perspective

JUNYENT, A.; ROSEMBERG C. R.; CUNEO, P.

Interdiscplinaria

Ediciones CIIPME-CONICET

Lugar: Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires; Año: 2025

0325-8203

The elaboration of a digital programme for the home environment aimed to promote linguistic abilities and phonological awareness for bilingual language and literacy development in Qom children—indigenous group in Argentina whose language is threatened—is described. The programme focuses on the interdependent development of vocabulary, grammar, discourse abilities, and phonological awareness—required for initial literacy acquisition (Anthony et al., 2009; Cummins, 1979, 1981)—in both Qom and Spanish. Based on sociocultural (Nelson, 1996, 2007) and interactional approaches to language and literacy development (Rogoff et al., 1989), the programme offers a set of socioculturally-appropriate educational stories and activities, organised in progressive units aimed to trigger intended interactions in both languages, creating opportunities for the child to learn through the scaffolding of more expert members of the culture. The programme is discussed as an educational intervention for promoting children’s full development and contributing to revitalisations of an indigenous language.