3,217
edits
Oaxaca Languages: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
(Updated language links) |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
''[[Oaxaca|Oaxaca]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Oaxaca_Language_and_Languages|Language and Languages]]'' | ''[[Oaxaca|Oaxaca]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Oaxaca_Language_and_Languages|Language and Languages]]'' | ||
==Indigenous Languages of Oaxaca== | |||
With one million indigenous speakers, or 35 percen,t 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> | With one million indigenous speakers, or 35 percen,t 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> | ||
| Line 27: | Line 15: | ||
*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> | *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 | ==Indigenous Languages of Mexico== | ||
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. | |||
In 1889, Antonio García Cubas estimated that 38% of Mexicans spoke an indigenous language, down from 60% in 1820. By the end of the 20th century, this figure had fallen to 6%. | |||
In the early history of Mexico after the Spanish conquest, the spiritual leaders knew Latin, and where schools were established, Latin was a required subject. So you may find some Latin terms included in church records. | |||
Hundreds of native languages and dialects existed although very few written records survived the European conquest. Of these the Náuatl language, spoken by the Aztecs of the Central Plateau region, is predominant, followed by the Mayan of the Yucatan Pennisula and Northern Central America. The Zapoteco, Mixteco, and Otomi languages, follow in importance. | |||
In the early records a great many Indian words, especially names and localities, found their way into the Spanish language. Many of them were modified to make them more pronounceable to the Spanish conquerors. | |||
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]]. | |||
== Language Aids == | |||
The Family History Library provides the following aids: | The Family History Library provides the following aids: | ||