TUSCALOOSA, Ala.-- A bilingual lecture with Dr. Almidio Aquino, director of the Language Notebooks Project, will be held at The University of Alabama on Monday, Jan.14 in 205 Gorgas Library from 2-4 p.m.

This important project aims to maintain the indigenous Ava Guaraní language and culture in Paraguay by producing reading and other materials for the children of the community.

For several centuries, the Guarani, whose language formed the cultural foundation of Paraguay, have significantly decreased in numbers and there is a real danger of their culture and language being completely lost. Some 20 years ago, the powerful motion picture “The Mission” starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons was released, bringing worldwide exposure to the Guarani aboriginal people.

This fascinating lecture will be given in Spanish with translation by Alicia Cipria and students from the UA Spanish program. Following the talk will be a reception featuring refreshments with Latin American flavors.

Professor Aquino leads the effort to maintain the language and culture of the Ava Guaraní people of Paraguay. Aquino and his Language Notebooks Project team have worked to record Guaraní oral histories and other materials.

Aquino has conducted extensive qualitative research by interviewing, visiting and interacting with the various aboriginal groups. Because of Aquino's work, called Proyecto Kuatiañe’e, 17 books, three cassettes and a trilingual dictionary have been published. The publication of this material is significant as they were the first books available for Ava Guaraní children to learn about their unique culture and language.

This event is co-sponsored by UA Libraries, Capstone International Programs and the departments of anthropology, history, and modern languages and classics.

The University of Alabama, a student-centered research university, is in the midst of a planned, steady enrollment growth with a goal of reaching 28,000 students by 2010. This growth, which is positively impacting the campus and the state's economy, is in keeping with UA's vision to be the university of choice for the best and brightest students. UA, the state's flagship university, is an academic community united in its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all Alabamians.