Rocha, Uruguay, declares local speech as cultural heritage and launches railway revitalization

The department of Rocha, Uruguay, has implemented two major initiatives aimed at preserving its cultural and historical identity.

First, the departmental government has officially declared the traditional way of speaking by Rocha residents as Intangible Cultural Heritage. This decree recognizes the unique linguistic patterns of the region, including the specific use of ‘tú’ instead of ‘vos’, as a vital part of the community's social and historical identity. The measure, initiated by Mayor Alejo Umpiérrez, establishes a Departmental Registry of Linguistic Heritage to collect and study local vocabulary, oral stories, and traditional expressions influenced by rural, fishing, and border cultures.

In a separate effort to revitalize local infrastructure, the Intendencia de Rocha and the State Railways Administration (AFE) have signed a framework agreement to recover and repurpose the department's railway heritage. The first major project involves transforming the site of the old Rocha station into a ‘Parque Lineal’. This development plans to recycle existing architecture to host cultural, sporting, and recreational spaces, including a cultural center, an amphitheater, a skate park, and a theater.