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''[[Oaxaca|Oaxaca]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Oaxaca Language and Languages|Language and Languages]]'' | ''[[Oaxaca|Oaxaca]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Oaxaca Language and Languages|Language and Languages]]'' | ||
The official language of Mexico is Spanish, which is spoken by 90 percent of the people. Indian languages of the Aztecs, Mayans, and other tribes are still spoken throughout the country. Originally there may have been more than 200 roots of native languages. | The official language of Mexico is Spanish, which is spoken by 90 percent of the people. Indian languages of the Aztecs, Mayans, and other tribes are still spoken throughout the country. Originally there may have been more than 200 roots of native languages. | ||
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Spanish phonetics may affect the way names appear in genealogical records. For example, the names of your ancestor may vary from record to record in Spanish. For help in understanding name variations, see [[Mexico Names, Personal]]. | Spanish phonetics may affect the way names appear in genealogical records. For example, the names of your ancestor may vary from record to record in Spanish. For help in understanding name variations, see [[Mexico Names, Personal]]. | ||
=== Oaxaca: Land of Diversity === | |||
With one million indigenous speakers, or 35 percent of the population speaking an indigenous language, Oaxaca is Mexico's "most indigenous state."<ref>Tony Burton, "Did you know? Oaxaca is the most culturally diverse state in Mexico" (Mexconnect Mexico Culture and Arts, http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1165-did-you-know-oaxaca-is-the-most-culturally-diverse-state-in-mexico).</ref> How is Oaxaca the home to so many groups of native people? Because of its topography, explains Mexico expert John P. Schmal. In Oaxaca there are many valleys, isolated from other people by imposing mountains. Because of that isolation, groups who once spoke the same language are separated; their languages evolve and adapt until they are no longer recognizable as the same tongue.<ref>John P. Schaml, "Indigenous Languages of Mexico" (Mexconnect Mexico Culture and Arts, http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/3689-indigenous-languages-in-mexico).</ref> | |||
The many and varied indigenous languages spoken in Oaxaca include:<br> | |||
*Mixtec. Seven percent of Mexico's indigenous speakers speak one of 57 Mixtec languages. Mixtecs have migrated to every state in Mexico, but they are indigenous to Oaxaca (where 57 percent reside) and Guerrero (where 26 percent reside). Mixtec is part os the Oto-Manguean language group.<ref>John P. Schmal, "Indigenous Languages of Mexico," (Mexconnect Mexico Culture and Arts, http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/3689-indigenous-languages-in-mexico), point 3</ref> | |||
*Zapotec. 6.84% of speakers of indigenous languages speak one of 64 Zapotec languages. Like Mixtecs, the Zapotecs can be found in all parts of Mexico. However, the vast majority--over 86 percent--live in Oaxaca. Zapotec is part of the Oto-Manguean language group.<ref>John P. Schmal, "Indigenous Languages of Mexico," (Mexconnect Mexico Culture and Arts, http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/3689-indigenous-languages-in-mexico), point 4</ref> | |||
*Mazateco. Mazateco speakers account for about three percent of Mexico's indigenous speakers. About eighty percent of Mazateco speakers live in Oaxaca, with significant numbers also living in Puebla, Veracruz, and the State of Mexico. Like Mixtec and Zapotec, Mazateco is part of the Oto-Manguean language group.<ref>John P. Schmal, "Indigenous Languages of Mexico," (Mexconnect Mexico Culture and Arts, http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/3689-indigenous-languages-in-mexico), point 9</ref> | |||
*Chinanteca. Chinanteca is also an Oto-Manguean language, and like Mixtec and Zapotec, its speakers are found in every part of Mexico. But the vast majority (about 82 percent) of Chinanteca speakers live in Oaxaca. Chinanteca speakers account for two percent of indigenous speakers in all of Mexico.<ref>John P. Schmal, "Indigenous Languages of Mexico," (Mexconnect Mexico Culture and Arts, http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/3689-indigenous-languages-in-mexico), point 12</ref> | |||
*Mixe. The Mixe is an isolated language native spoken by abou 115,000 Mexicans; Mixe speakers live in Oaxaca and Chiapas.<ref>John P. Schmal, "Indigenous Languages of Mexico," (Mexconnect Mexico Culture and Arts, http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/3689-indigenous-languages-in-mexico), point 13</ref> | |||
*Zoque. Zoque speakers are an even smaller minority group, within barely 50,000 speakers. They are closely related to the Mixe; the majority of Zoque live in Chiapas, with a smaller number living in Oaxaca.<ref>John P. Schmal, "Indigenous Languages of Mexico," (Mexconnect Mexico Culture and Arts, http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/3689-indigenous-languages-in-mexico), point 18</ref> | |||
*Amuzgo. Speakers of Amuzgo, also an Oto-Manguean language, live primarily in Guerrero, and about 11 percent live in Oaxaca.<ref>John P. Schmal, "Indigenous Languages of Mexico," (Mexconnect Mexico Culture and Arts, http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/3689-indigenous-languages-in-mexico), point 19</ref><br> | |||
=== Language Aids === | === Language Aids === | ||