The Nahuatl Tlahtolkalli (Nahuatl Academy of Language) provides general information About nahuatl.info in this section.
About nahuatl.info

nahuatl.info
CUALLI TONALLI ! (GOOD DAY!)

The Nahuatl Tlahtolkalli (Nahuatl Academy of Language) here at nahuatl.info is an online Nahuatl language learning center initiated by graduate-level students Citlalin Xochime (Star Blossoms) & Itztli Ehecatl (Obsidian Wind) . This project began in xihuitl ipan Yei-Tochtli imetz in Teotleco 'year 3 rabbit, month of when the energy is united' of the Mexica calendar; this was a time also known as October 2002 according to the Gregorian calendar. We simply wanted a place to facilitate our understanding of Nahua culture while developing fluency of the language to such a degree that we may comfortably visit Nahuatl-speaking villages. To attain these goals, we reserved an entire domain to maintain an interactive, educational message board, scheduled weekly classes in our Nahuatl chat room, review sessions, quizzes, and sound clips of Nahuatl speakers. Upon completion of the entire course work, we will engage further study in the intermediate to advanced level. The long-term goal is to master Nahuatl literature as well—both reading and writing.


nahuatl.info background
Spanning across the broad Mesoamerican regions of Anahuac, the two largest native-language groups include the Aztecan branch of Nahuatl languages and the Mayan family tree of languages. More than one million speakers of various Nahuatl dialects live primarily in central and southern regions of Mexico and in parts of Cuzcatlan (El Salvador). The Mexican regions with the highest numbers of Nahuatl speakers include the federal entities of Puebla, Veracruz, Hildago, San Luis Potosi, Guerrero, Mexico (state), El Distrito Federal (D.F.), Tlaxcala, Morelos, and Oaxaca as shown in Figure 1. Smaller groups of Nahuatl speakers can be found in all 31 states of Mexico (qtd. in Rolstad 7) and in several states of the United States.


Figure 1. MEXICAN POPULATIONS WITH GREATER THAN 9,000 NAHUATL SPEAKING PEOPLES IN VARIOUS FEDERAL ENTITIES (qtd. in Rolstad 7).

The Aztecan branch of Nahuatl languages descend from the Uto-Aztecan language family of the greater North American Amerindian category. The collective Uto-Aztecan language family encompasses a large swath of terrain from the western United States (U.S.) to Mesoamerica. These languages are presently or formerly spoken in the United States (U.S.) Great Basin, in the U.S. Southwest, in Southern California, Oklahoma, in México and in parts of Cuzcatlan. The Uto-Aztecan languages are thought to have diverged about 5,000 years ago (Mithun 540), resulting in the northern and southern extensions of the progenitor Uto-Aztecan language group.

Nahuatl is an ancient language spoken by our Mexica-Azteca, Tlaxcala, and Tolteca (qtd. in Hill and Hill 1) ancestors as well as by many contemporary Nahuatl-speaking peoples of numerous dialects which are listed below. The Classical Nahuatl dialect was once the language of commerce in Mexico City; yet, since 1833, it has been labeled as an extinct dialect according to the SIL International (previously known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics) (qtd. in Tezozomoc 1997). The classical form of Nahuatl that is taught in academic institutions of today is outdated by varying degrees from modern Nahuatl dialects. Synonymous names for modern Nahuatl dialects include Aztec, Mexicano, and Pipil (Campbell and Karttunen 1: 1). By language classification definition, Classical Nahuatl is not a living language.

Given that Nahuatl is the largest spoken native language in northern Ixachilan, what might be some other reasons why we should study an indigenous language?


Why Should We Study a Native American Language like Nahuatl?

Prior to European colonization in the New World, nearly 300 extant and distinct Native American languages were spoken in regions north of the Rio Grande (Mithun 1). An estimated 155 of these indigenous languages are still spoken today; yet, nearly one-half of them are now extinct with little remaining evidence of their existence (qtd. in Crawford 18; Kraus 1992). Nearly all of the indigenous languages of North America are endangered and stand at a high-risk of being completely lost in usage (Mithun 2).

Native language scholars and speakers understand all too well that the loss of a language means the loss of some of the most intimate aspects of culture. These most treasured cultural attributes include the items summarized below by linguist Marianne Mithun in her book Native Languages of North America (2):

• organizing experience into concepts
  
• relating ideas to each other
  
• interacting with other people
  
• living traditional ritual, oratory, myth, legends, and humor
  

In an eloquent statement on the loss of language, Mithun offers the following thoughts for reflection on reasons why we should learn about Native American and other languages (2):

On further contemplation of cultural preservation, I recall a friend's message that encourages the study of Nahuatl because he says "if we continue to speak European languages such as English and Spanish, we will continue to think like European people." Early language-study research affirms this relationship between language and cultural expression. The 20th century linguist and anthropologist E. Sapir summarized his language- study conclusions with the now renowned statement:

"Language is a guide to social reality…it powerfully conditions all our thinking about social problems and processes" (Sapir 1929; qtd. In Trujillo Sáez 1997).

Furthermore, neither the English nor the Spanish languages contain any of our precolonial history. Given the intimate and significant relationships between language, cultural expression, and social processes, perhaps this is a good time to take responsibility and to learn about indigenous languages and cultures. After all, these native cultures have thrived for tens of thousands of years on this land in which we all build our livelihoods; and, it makes sense to educate ourselves about our diverse cultural surroundings. In the cause for learning Nahuatl, one who studies Nahuatl will attain the circular worldview of our ancestors and in this way, learning Nahuatl enables our abilities to identify and to deconstruct Eurocentrism, which has been spoon-fed to us for more than 500 years. For those of us who are of indigenous descent, it is time for us to think on our own and to learn about our true native heritage, culture, and ancestry!

Our Mexica elders believe that indigenous knowledge is in our genes: that we are born with the knowledge but that it takes an awakening process for this knowledge to surface. Elders say that learning Nahuatl is the most important step of this awakening process. Some indigenous groups still speak native languages today in Mexico and throughout Aztlan-Anahuac (region of U.S. Southwest down to Central America). Others native speakers, such as the Hopi, speak languages which are related to Nahuatl and are therefore classified as Uto-Aztecan.

Our Nahuatl lessons primarily reflect the Classical Nahuatl dialect and conform with Spanish convention orthography for reference purposes. For further details on orthography used in our Nahuatl lessons, please see . 'Orthography' is defined by Webster's Dictionary as "the art of writing words with the proper letters according to accepted usage" or "a method of spelling, as by the use of an alphabet or other writing symbols."

Works Cited

Crawford, James. (1995). "Endangered Native American languages: What is to be done, and why?" Bilingual Research Journal 19 (1): 17-38.

Hill, Jane H. and Kenneth C. Hill. Speaking Mexicano. Tucson: Univ. of Arizona Press, 1986.

Instituto Nacional Indigenista p. 94.

Krauss, Michael. "The World's Languages in Crisis." Language 68 (1): 5-17.

Mithun, Marianne. The Languages of Native North America. 1999. New York: Cambridge, 2001.

Reyhner, Jon, ed. Teaching Indigenous Languages. Flagstaff: Northern Arizona University, 1997.

Rolstad, K. (2002). "Language death in Central Mexico: The decline of Spanish-Nahuatl bilingualism and the new bilingual maintenance programs." Bilingual Review 25 (3): 1-14.

Tezozomoc, Danza Azteca Huehueteotl, and Danza Azteca Tenochtitlan. "Revernacularizing Classical Náhuatl Through Danza (Dance) Azteca-Chichimeca." Reyner 56-76.

Trujillo Saez, Fernando. "Cultural Awareness in Writing: Pedagogical Implications of Contrastive Rhetoric." Communication presented/displayed in of the First International Conference on English Studies: Past, Present and Future, organized by the University of Almeria, 19-25 of October of 1997.



books (suggested)
NAHUATL GRAMMAR BOOKS AND DICTIONARIES (SUGGESTED)

The resources located at the link(s) listed below are not required for our online Nahuatl Tlahtolkalli classes; however, any student who is able to acquire any of the resources, we encourage you to do so.

An affordable Nahuatl/English dictionary is available by Frances Karttunen, titled An Analytical Dictionary of Nahuatl. See link below for online sites where this dictionary may be purchased. We will be using Karttunen's lexical entries as the standardized script form in our lessons. Karttunen's dictionary provides such emphasis as differences between long and short vowels and distinguishes the glottal stop, which is also known as a "hache saltillo," a consonant sound distinction.

Here's one resource link to purchase Karttunen's dictionary :

Another book that we will be following closely is R. Joe Campbell's and Frances Karttunen's Foundation Course in Nahuatl Grammar. The book course features two volumes which are available for purchase at $25 each ($50 total), by requesting each volume from the contact person and address listed in the link provided here:

NAHUAT-LIST & REFERENCES (SUGGESTED)
Nahuatl Home Page:
http://www.mrs.umn.edu/academic/history/Nahuatl/index.htm

Nahuat-List:
http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/nahuat-l.html

Please check-out the Nahuatl resource listing available at the following link:


browser
PLEASE USE INTERNET EXPLORER!!!
In order to view our webpages with clear and accurate browser reading, we encourage all users to access our webpages using the latest browser version of Internet Explorer. Versions for PC or MAC computers may be accessed and downloaded from the link listed here:

nahuatl.info chat room
The chat room is now open and available for use. We meet weekly in the chat room to cover Nahuatl lesson materials. In addition, the chat room may be accessed and used by Nahuatl Tlahtolkalli members at any time beyond our regularly scheduled sessions. The chat room and access instructions are available from the Nahuatl Tlahtolkalli menu above, or one may join in the chat room sessions by selecting the link here:

Typically, when we have Thursday evening classes, we meet in the chatroom at the following time(s):

( 7:00 p.m. Pacific coast time)
(= 8:00 p.m. Mountain)
(= 9:00 p.m. Central), or
(= 10:00 p.m.Eastern standard time).

For those residing overseas, we are sorry but we are not familiar with overseas time zones. Please check the web for times in your areas.

Please check-out the chat room in advance to find out whether or not your Internet browser supports our Java script chatroom. Some students might be prohibited from accessing the chat room if you are using a school computer with firewall protection.



class schedule/format
The class schedule is now available at the following link:

Since we have many new and/or returning students, we encourage all new students to show-up to class even if you are completely new to the lessons. We can do a quick assessment on the need for scheduling any additional review sessions or you may prefer to drop-in on the classes and follow at your own pace. If you are studying on your own, please feel free to join in on the discussions.

During our online sessions, typically 6-12 students may show-up. Since the class-size is small, students are encouraged to ask questions on the Nahuatl lesson material that is covered. Students should also be able to respond to examples given during class sessions as well.



contact
We hope that you feel comfortable here and that you will return with friends, family, and most importantly, a growing desire to learn Nahuatl!

Nahuatl Tiahui ! (Nahuatl moving forward!)
Citlalin Xochime & Itztli Ehecatl

Citlalin Xochime may be contacted by selecting the email contact listed here:

forum
nahuatl.info and its supporting pages are intended to meet educational purposes for students of all genres interested in learning the language and culture of Nahuatl speaking peoples. We offer a chat room for conducting our Nahuatl classes in an online format, and a discussion forum is available for classroom activities on Nahuatl and on other Ixachilankah (Indigenous People of the Western Hemisphere) cultures, languages, and issues. The agenda for the Nahuatl Tlahtolkalli Discussion Forum is to serve as an alternative medium for students in achieving Nahuatl discourse by use of the English language and by means of the Spanish language when Spanish speakers are present. Please be mindful that this site is run by college students with supporting technical skills and assistance in the areas of linguistics, writing systems, computer design, animation, and sound features.

Registration is required to participate in our forum. See registration information below. Please visit our forum by selecting from the menu above, or by selecting the link provided here:

lessons
Some of the Nahuatl lesson materials that are available here at the nahuatl.info website were translated from Spanish/Nahuatl into English/Nahuatl by Itztli Ehecatl with English/Nahuatl editing by Citlalin Xochime; the title of the grammar book on which some lessons are based is: Manual Practico y Simplificado de Introduccion al Estudio del Idioma Nahuatl. Universidad Nahuatl Octopec, Morelos. Author: Jorge Munguia Martinez (Nahuatl University, Morelos, Mexico).

We will also be drawing from the Nahuatl course work of the native Nahuatl-speaking gentleman, Don Genaro Medina Ramos . The course work taught by Don Ramos is a of a Spanish translated Nahuatl grammar lesson plan that was formulated together with compilation notework by Betty Jo Taffe, M.A.T., M.B.A, and Dr. William J. Taffe, Ph.D.. This particular Nahuatl course work was produced during April - June 1999, at the Casa de Cultura de Cholula, San Pedro Cholula, Puebla, Mexico.


quizzes
A new quiz section was added to our forum. Please make an effort to take
the weekly quizzes for practical purpose.



references
References to numerous citings in our online Nahuatl lessons are listed below:

Andrews, J. Richard. Introduction to Classical Nahuatl. Austin: Univ. of Texas, 1975.

Bierhorst, John. A Nahuatl-English Dictionary and Concordance to the Cantares Mexicanos: with an Analytical Transcription and Grammatical Notes. Stanford Univ. Press: Stanford (1985).

Campbell, R. Joe and Frances Karttunen. Foundation Course in Nahuatl Grammar. 2 vols. Morris: Univ. of Minnesota, 1989.

Karttunen, Frances. An Analytical Dictionary of Nahuatl. 1983. Oklahoma: Univ. of Oklahoma, Norman, 1992.

Lockhart, James. Nahuatl as Written: Lessons in Older Written Nahuatl, with Copious Examples and Texts. Stanford Univ. Press: Stanford, 2001.

Mithun, Marianne. The Languages of Native North America. 1999. New York: Cambridge, 2001.

Sullivan, Thelma D. Compendium of Nahuatl Grammar.1976. Trans. Thelma D. and Neville Stiles. Ed. Wick R. Miller and Karen Dakin. Salt Lake City: Univ. of Utah, 1988.

registration
Please register for forum participation at the link provided here:




review sessions
Students wishing to catch up on previously covered lessons may do so by
attending scheduled Nahuatl review sessions which will be posted in the class schedule as soon as reviews are scheduled (monthly).

self-study
If you are studying on your own, please feel free to join in on our chat room discussions. If you are not up-to-date on the lessons, please do not become discouraged! Try to attend the online class anyway, and participate as best as possible. New and returning students are encouraged to attend all upcoming class and review sessions.

supplements
Nahuatl Supplements 1-3 are available at the following link:

INDEX CARDS
Students may print out the notes from the Supplement 3 webpage, or a better solution is to open the PDF version of the NOUN STEM notes (link listed on the same page) and then print out your notes using INDEX WEIGHT paper. Index weight paper can be purchased somewhat inexpensively. (MAKE SURE THAT THE PRINTER THAT YOU ARE USING IS CAPABLE OF PRINTING INDEX WEIGHT PAPER, OTHERWISE THE PRINTER MAY BECOME JAMMED - AS THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I TRIED USING A LASER PRINTER!)

The direct link to the NOUN STEM notes (pdf version) is listed below:



questions?
If you have any further questions - please ask! We will try our best to resolve any technical difficulties or questions that you may have. All of the Nahuatl lessons are available online, so please try to read/study each lesson before the scheduled class meeting.



©Xihuitl Nahui Akatl (Year 4 Reed): Nahuatl Tlahtolkalli, nahuatl.info
©Xihuitl Yei Tochtli (Year 3 Rabbit): Nahuatl Tlahtolkalli, nahuatl.info

listing of nahuatl dialects
Below is a listing of living and extinct Náhuatl dialects and regional information from http://www.ethnologue.com (2002).

NÁHUATL, PUEBLA, SIERRA: a language of Mexico

Population: 125,000 (1983).
Region: Northeast Puebla.
Alternate names: SIERRA DE PUEBLA NÁHUAT, HIGHLAND PUEBLA NÁHUAT, SIERRA AZTEC, ZACAPOAXTLA NÁHUAT, ZACAPOAXTLA MEJICANO

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: Bilingual level estimates for Spanish, Totonaca are 0 20%, 1 30%, 2 30%, 3 10%, 4 5%, 5 5%. VSO, non-tonal, long words, affixes. Tropical forest. Mountain slope. Pastoralists, peasant agriculturalists. 1,000 to 1,500 meters. NT 1979.

Source

NÁHUATL, GUERRERO: a language of Mexico

Population: 150,000 to 200,000 (1998 SIL).
Region: Balsas River, Guerrero.
Alternate names: GUERRERO AZTEC

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: Bilingual level estimates for Spanish are 0 5%, 1 20%, 2 40%, 3 20%, 4 10%, 5 5%. SVO, non-tonal, long words, affixes, clitics. Desert. Mountain mesa. Peasant agriculturalists. 600 to 2,200 meters. Traditional religion, Christian. NT 1987.

Source

NÁHUATL, HUASTECA, ESTE: a language of Mexico

Population: 410,000 (1991 SIL).
Region: Huautla, Hidalgo is the center; also in Puebla and Veracruz. 1,500 villages.
Alternate names: EASTERN HUASTECA AZTEC, HIDALGO NÁHUATL, HUASTECA NÁHUATL

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 85% intelligibility between Eastern and Western Huasteca Náhuatl. Survey of other dialects needed. Southeastern Huasteca Náhuatl may need separate materials. Bilingual level estimates for Spanish are 0 50%, 1 10%, 2 10%, 3 10%, 4 19%, 5 1%. Nontonal, SVO, long words, affixes. Radio programs. Scrub forest. Mountain mesa. Swidden agriculturalists. 0 to 2,000 meters. NT 1984.

Source

NÁHUATL,ISTMO-MECAYAPAN: a language of Mexico

Population: 20,000 (1994 SIL).
Region: Southern Veracruz, Mecayapan Municipio, Mecayapan and Tatahuicapan towns.
Alternate names: ISTHMUS NAHUAT, ISTHMUS AZTEC, MECAYAPAN NAHUAT

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: It may be intelligible with Pipil of Honduras and El Salvador. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions 1952.

Source

NÁHUATL, COATEPEC: a language of Mexico

Population: 1,400 speakers including 15 monolinguals (1990 census).
Region: State of Mexico, Coatepec Costales, Tlacultlapa, Texcalco, Tonalapa, Maxela, Machito de las Flores, Chilacachapa, Miacacsingo, Los Sabinos, and Acapetlahuaya, all west of Iguala, Guerrero. The language has strongest usage in Coatepec Costales and Chilacachapa.
Alternate names: COATEPEC AZTEC

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 54% intelligibility of Santa Catarina (Morelos), 48% of Atliaca (Guerrero), 35% of Copalillo Guerrero, 28% of Zongolica (Orizaba). Bilingualism in Spanish. It is reported that only those over 40 speak the language. 11 monolinguals are over 50 (1990 census). Investigation needed: bilingual proficiency.

Source

NÁHUATL, CLASSICAL: an extinct language of Mexico

Region: Central México, Tenochtitlán, Aztec Empire.
Alternate names: CLASSICAL AZTEC

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: Extinct. NT 1833.

Source

NAHUATL, PUEBLA NORTE: a language of Mexico

Population: 60,000 (1990 census).
Region: Naupan, northern Puebla.
Alternate names: NORTH PUEBLA AZTEC

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: Bilingual level estimates for Spanish are 0 20%, 1 30%, 2 30%, 3 15%, 4 5%, 5 0%. SVO, nontonal, long words, affixes, clitics. Pine forest. Mountain slope. Swidden, peasant agriculturalists. 2,000 meters. NT 1979.

Source:

NÁHUATL, MICHOACÁN: a language of Mexico
SIL code: NCL
ISO 639-2: nah

Population: 3,000 (1990 census).
Region: Michoacán near the coast around Pómaro.
Alternate names: MICHOACÁN NAHUAL, MICHOACÁN AZTEC

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: Bilingual level estimates for Spanish are 0 0%, 1 0%, 2 0%, 3 45%, 4 50%, 5 5%. SVO, VSO, long words, affixes. Literacy rate in first language: 5% to 10% (mainly children). Literacy rate in second language: 35%. Scrub forest. Mountain slope. Sedentary pastoralists, swidden agriculturalists. 200 meters. NT 1998.

Source

NÁHUATL PUEBLA CENTRAL: a language of Mexico

Population: 16,000 speakers, including 1,430 monolinguals, 800 in Teopantlán, 600 in Huatlatlauca (1998 SIL).
Region: South of Puebla City (97' 08' 56 W Long, 17' 10' 27 N Lat), Teopantlán, Tepatlaxco de Hidalgo, Tochimilco, Atoyatempan, Huatlathauca, Huehuetlán (near Molcaxac).

Alternate names: CENTRAL PUEBLA AZTEC, SOUTHWESTERN PUEBLA NÁHUATL

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 87% intelligibility of Zongolica, Ver.; 82% of Chilac, Pue. and Tlaxpanaloya, Pue.; 69% of Zautla, Pue.; 68% of Canoa, Pue.; 60% of Teopoxco, Oax. Bilingualism in Spanish. 70% to 80% of children entering school in some towns do not speak Spanish. In other towns the younger generation are not learning Náhuatl. There are schools in most towns. Agriculturalists, mat makers, laborers to other areas. 5,000 feet or more.

Source

NÁHUATL, TABASCO: an extinct language of Mexico

Region: State of Tabasco, towns of Cupilco and Tecominoacan.
Alternate names: TABASCO AZTEC

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: Recently extinct. Extinct.

Source

NÁHUATL, TETELCINGO: a language of Mexico

Population: 3,500 (1990 census).
Region: State of Morelos, town of Tetelcingo.
Alternate names: TETELCINGO AZTEC

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: Distinct from Morelos Náhuatl. Bilingual level estimates for Spanish are 0 1%, 1 5%, 2 30%, 3 24%, 4 30%, 5 10%. Grammar. SVO, VSO, VOS (order of frequency), nontonal, long words, affixes, clitics. Savannah. Mountain slope, plains. Agriculture. 1,500 to 1,800 meters. NT 1980.

Source

NÁHUATL, TENANGO: a language of Mexico

Population: 1,500 to 2,000 (1999 SIL).
Region: North of Puebla City, just south of Zacatlán, Puebla, 8 km. on a road which branches to the east. 6 towns: San Miguel Tenango, Yehuala, Cuacuila, Tetelatzingo, Zonotla, Zoquitla.

Alternate names: SAN MIGUEL TENANGO NÁHUATL, TENANGO AZTEC

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: Close to Southeastern Puebla Náhuatl, but mother tongue speakers of both discovered many differences over a 2-day period. About 50% to 60% intelligibility with Sierra Náhuatl and Northern Puebla Náhuatl, about 80% to 90% with Southeastern Puebla Náhuatl. Most speakers can apparently speak some Spanish, but are more comfortable in Náhuatl. Children play in Náhuatl. Positive attitudes toward Náhuatl. Agriculturalists: corn, peas, chilicayotes. 2,000 meters. Christian.

Source
-
NÁHUATL, TLALITZLIPA: a language of Mexico

Population: 108 speakers (1990 census).
Region: Near Zacatlán, Puebla, 1 village.

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 77% inherent intelligibility of Tlaxpanaloya (North Puebla), 58% of Macuilocatl (Western Huasteco Náhuatl), 41% of Tatóscac (Highland Puebla). Nearly extinct.

Source

NÁHUATL, ISTMO-COSOLEACAQUE: a language of Mexico

Population: 5,144 speakers, including 12 monolinguals (1990 census).
Region: Veracruz, Cosoleacaque, Oteapan, Jáltipan de Morelos, Hidalgotitlán, Soconusco.
Alternate names: ISTHMUS NÁHUATL, COSOLEACAQUE AZTEC

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 84% intelligibility of Pajapan, 83% of Mecayapan, 46% on Xoteapan. Bilingualism in Spanish. Most of the monolinguals are over 50 years old. Investigation needed: bilingual proficiency.

Source

NÁHUATL, MORELOS: a language of Mexico

Population: 15,000 speakers, including possibly 200 to 500 monolinguals (1990 census).
Region: Morelos, towns of Cuentepec, Santa Catarina Tepoztlán, Tetela del Volcán, Hueyapan, Temixco, Xocotitlán, Tepetlapa, Puente de Ixtla.

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 72% inherent intelligibility of Cuaohueyalta (Northern Puebla), 69% of Atliaca (Guerrero), 54% of Macuilocatl (Western Huasteca), 40% of Yahualica (Eastern Huasteca), 36% of Pómaro (Michoacán), 34% of Tetelcingo, 27% of Chilac (Southeast Puebla), 19% of Tatóscac (Highland Puebla), 0% on Mecayapan (Isthmus). Dialects in Canoa, Tlaxcala, and northern Puebla need to be compared with this. Bilingual level estimates for Spanish are 0 0%, 1 5%, 2 10%, 3 45%, 4 30%, 5 10%. Only a few children do not speak Náhuatl. Cuentepec has the most vigorous language use. There is a secondary school. Nontonal, SVO, long words, affixes. There is a bilingual primary school. Deciduous forest. Mountain mesa. Peasant agriculturalists. 4,000 feet or higher.

Source

NÁHUATL CENTRAL: a language of Mexico

Population: 40,000 speakers with 1,000 monolinguals (1990 census). Ethnic population 63,000 in 1986. Speakers of all Náhuatl varieties: 1,376,898 (1980 census).
Region: States of Tlaxcala and Puebla.
Alternate names: CENTRAL AZTEC, TLAXCALA-PUEBLA NÁHUATL

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: The most monolingual location is northeast of Puebla City about 15 km. Spanish is used by a few. There are some monolingual children.

Source

NÁHUATL, ISTMO-PAJAPAN: a language of Mexico

Population: 7,000 speakers, including 500 monolinguals (1990 census).
Region: Veracruz, Pajapan, San Juan Volador, Santanón, Sayultepec, Jicacal.
Alternate names: ISTHMUS NÁHUAT, PAJAPAN NÁHUAT

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 83% intelligibility of Mecayapan (Isthmus Náhuatl), 94% of Oteapan (Cosoleacaque). Bible portions 1990.

Source

NÁHUATL, HUAXCALECA: a language of Mexico

Population: 7,000 speakers, including 55 monolinguals (1990 census). 800 speakers are over 50. 2% under 20 speak Náhuatl. 40 of the monolinguals are over 50. The population in about 12 municipios no longer speak Náhuatl.
Region: Puebla, towns of Chichiquila and Chilchotla.
Alternate names: HUAXCALECA AZTEC, CHICHIQUILA NÁHUATL

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 87% intelligibility of Sierra de Puebla Náhuatl, 85% on Orizaba Náhuatl.

Source

NÁHUATL, PUEBLA SURESTE: a language of Mexico

Population: 130,000 (1991 SIL).
Region: Southeast Puebla, Tehuacán region, Chilac and San Sebastián Zinacatepec area.
Alternate names: SOUTHEASTERN PUEBLA NÁHUATL, TEHUACÁN NÁHUATL

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: Approximately 60% intelligibility with Morelos Náhuatl. Bilingual level estimates for Spanish are 0 30%, 1 20%, 2 20%, 3 20%, 4 10%, 5 10%. Nontonal, long words, affixes. Desert. Mountain slope, plains. Peasant, intensive agriculturalists with irrigation. Bible portions 1992-1995.

Source

NÁHUATL, OMETEPEC: a language of Mexico

Population: 433 (1990 census), 12 towns.
Region: Southern Guerrero, Arcelia, Acatepec, Quetzalapa de Azoyú, Rancho de Cuananchinicha, and El Carmen; and some in Oaxaca, Juxtlahuaca District, Cruz Alta and San Vicente Piñas towns; and Putla District, Concepción Guerrero town.
Alternate names: OMETEPEC AZTEC

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: Intelligibility testing in Quetzalapa yielded 77% on Santa Catarina, México (near Texcoco) and 70% on Atliaca, Guerrero. May be 3 languages. Bilingualism in Spanish. Investigation needed: intelligibility with dialects, bilingual proficiency.

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NÁHUATL, TEMASCALTEPEC: a language of Mexico

Population: 311 speakers in 4 communities (1990 census). There may be fewer actual speakers.
Region: State of México, towns of San Mateo Almomoloa, Santa Ana, La Comunidad, and Potrero de San José, southwest of Toluca.
Alternate names: TEMASCALTEPEC AZTEC, ALMOMOLOYA NÁHUATL

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 53% intelligibility of Coatepec, Guerrero; 45% of Pómaro, Michoacán; 40% of Santa Catarina, Morelos; 10% of Tlaxpanaloya, Puebla. Reported to be bilingual in Spanish. Investigation needed: bilingual proficiency.

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NÁHUATL, HUASTECO OESTE: a language of Mexico

Population: 400,000 (1991 SIL).
Region: Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosí is the center; also in Hidalgo. 1,500 villages.
Alternate names: WESTERN HUASTECA AZTEC, TAMAZUNCHALE NÁHUATL, HUASTECA NÁHUATL
Dialects CENTRAL HUASTECA NÁHUATL, WESTERN HUASTECA NÁHUATL.

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 85% intelligibility between Eastern and Western Huasteco Náhuatl. Separate literature may be needed for 100,000 speakers of a Central dialect. Bilingual level estimates for Spanish are 0 50%, 1 10%, 2 10%, 3 10%, 4 19%, 5 1%. Investigation needed: intelligibility with Central Huasteca. Nontonal, SVO, long words, affixes. Radio programs. Scrub forest. Mountain mesa. Swidden agriculturalists. 0 to 2,000 meters. NT 1986.

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NÁHUATL, IXHUATLANCILLO: a language of Mexico

Population: 4,000 speakers, including 600 monolinguals or more (1990 census).
Region: Veracruz, Ixhuatlancillo Municipio, town of Ixhuatlancillo, just 15 minutes north of Orizaba city.

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 67% intelligibility of Chilac (Southeastern Puebla), 60% of Zautla, 50% of Canoa and Teopoxco, 48% of Orizaba, low intelligibility of other Náhuatl. All ages. 50% of children are totally monolingual upon entering school. 60% to 70% of each age group is monolingual. There are primary schools and 1 secondary. Animal husbandry: cattle; agriculturalists: sugarcane; merchants. 4,500 feet.

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NÁHUATL, OAXACA NORTE: a language of Mexico

Population: 9,000 including 1,400 monolinguals (1990 census).
Region: Northwestern Oaxaca, near Southeast Puebla Náhuatl, towns of Santa María Teopoxco, San Antonio Nanahuatipan, San Gabriel Casa Blanca, Teotitlán del Camino, San Martín Toxpalan, Ignacio Zaragosa, Apixtepec, El Manzano de Mazatlán, Cosolapa, Tesonapa (one of the last 2 towns is in Veracruz). In Puebla: Coxcatlán.
Alternate names: NORTHERN OAXACA NÁHUATL

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 80% intelligibility of Orizaba Náhuatl, 76% of Southeast Puebla and Canoa, 75% of North Puebla, 48% of Tatóscac.

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NÁHUATL, SANTA MARÍA LA ALTA: a language of Mexico

Population: 2,000 to 3,000 speakers, including at least 9 monolinguals (1992 SIL).
Region: Puebla, Santa María la Alta, Atenayuca. A pocket northwest of Tehuacán, off the Puebla-Tehuacán highway.
Alternate names: SANTA MARÍA NÁHUATL

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 60% intelligibility of Pómaro (Michoacán), 53% of Huatlatlauca, Puebla; 50% of Zautla (Highland Puebla), Chilac (Southeastern Puebla); 40% of Zongolica (Orizaba); 33% of Mecayapan, Veracruz (Isthmus); 30% of Canoa, Puebla. Reported to be bilingual in Spanish. Investigation needed: bilingual proficiency in Spanish.

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NÁHUATL, DURANGO: a language of Mexico

Population: 1,000 (1990 census).
Region: Southern Durango, San Pedro de la Jicoras and San Juan de Buenaventura. One day trail from nearest air strip or highway.
Alternate names: MEXICANERO, DURANGO AZTEC

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 76% intelligibility with Michoacán Náhuatl (closest). Moderate bilingualism in Spanish. All ages. Vigorous. 'Mexicanero' is the local name.

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NÁHUATL, ORIZABA: a language of Mexico

Population: 120,000 (1991 SIL).
Region: Veracruz, Orizaba area.
Alternate names: ORIZABA AZTEC, NÁHUATL DE LA SIERRA DE ZONGOLICA

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: 79% intelligibility with closest Náhuatl (Morelos). Bible portions 1995.

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NÁHUATL, TLAMACAZAPA: a language of Mexico

Population: 1,548, including 12 monolinguals (1990 census).
Region: Tlamacazapa, 1 hour from Taxco on a good road.

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Aztec.

Comments: Different from Morelos Náhuatl and Guerrero Náhuatl. 79% inherent intelligibility of Guerrero. Some young children are speakers.

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[NOTE: The Pipil Language listed below is included in this section as it belongs to the same language grouping as Nahuatl (Aztec).]

PIPIL: a language of El Salvador

Population: 20 speakers approximately, all older people, out of 196,576 in ethnic group (1987). Population total both countries 20.
Region: Municipio of Dolores, Ocotepeque Department, near the El Salvador border. A few ethnic Pipil in Honduras. Also spoken in Honduras.
Alternate names: NAHUAT, NAWAT

Classification: Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Aztecan, General Aztec, Pipil.

Comments: Perhaps intelligible with Isthmus Nahuatl of Mexico (Otto Schumann 1969). High level of bilingualism in Spanish. Speakers are all older (1987). Investigation needed: intelligibility with Isthmus Nahuatl of Mexico. Has been taught in some schools for several years (D. Stewart 1994). Nearly extinct.

Also spoken in: Honduras
Language name: PIPIL
Population: No speakers in Honduras.
Alternate names: NAHUAT

Comments: The language is called 'Nahuat', the people 'Pipil.' Nearly extinct. See main entry under El Salvador.

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