Una nueva perspectiva de las políticas lingüísticas: las lenguas indígenas del Ecuador como patrimonio cultural inmaterial

A new perspective to approach indigenous languages today is that of Intangible Cultural Heritage as defined by 2003 UNESCO Convention. Either as vehicle or as domain, languages are part and parcel of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. However, the concept of heritage itself is not unequivocal and may be construed and applied at different levels of social organization, from the local and regional to the national and international. The article deals with the relevance and management of intangible cultural heritage at all of these levels and sets forth an alternative view and way of working for and with this particular type of heritage.