Extinction Of Nahuatl Language – An Aztec Legacy
Language is a complex concept. It could be defined in different ways. As part of the daily life of a community, it is usually seen as a tool for communicating messages between a receiver and a sender; “a language is a system of communication which consists of a set of sounds and written symbols which are used by the people of a particular country or region for talking or writing”. However, language has a deeper meaning. It has been described in terms of transmission of ideas, thoughts, feelings and customs that make a whole nation. In fact, different authors have expressed a profound meaning of language in their quotations: “To have another language is to possess a second soul” (Charlemagne), “if you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart” (Nelson Mandela), and “knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom” (Roger Bacon). In addition, it is also been said that language is “alive” because it is renewed through social and cultural interchange and technological and scientific advances. Nevertheless, not all languages grow and survive. Some tongues disappear. For example, Mexico has developed distinctive languages through history; “Mexico is among the top ten countries with the greatest linguistic diversity in the world and the second in number of living languages in the Americas”. Actually, Náhuatl is the most important indigenous language for number of speakers in Mexico. Despite that, it is at risk of disappearing. For this reason, Mexican authorities are currently discussing measures to save Náhuatl through pre-hispanic literature and language teaching in schools.
To apply the necessary measures to prevent Náhuatl from disappearing, the Mexican government has made an analysis of the primary reason of the beginning of the extinction. To understand the cause, it is essential to go back in history. Náhuatl was the predominant language in Mexico before the arrival of the Spaniards. It was the lingo of the Aztecs, the last great Mesoamerican civilization in the 13th century. The Aztecs conquered different peoples and imposed Náhuatl as a lingua franca. However, after the Spanish colonization, Náhuatl was displaced and was only used to make political and commercial alliances between the Spaniards and the Aztecs in favor to the expansion of the Spanish domain. In fact, the contact between Spanish and Náhuatl resulted in the assimilation of various words such as: Avocado (avocado) from 'aguacatl' or chocolate from 'xocolatl'. These words would be used later in many more languages around the world.
Despite the major influence of Náhuatl in the ancient Mexico, from the moment in which the Spanish language was imposed as a national language, the use of Náhuatl began its decline. First, it lost the status of language to be considered a dialect of little importance. This situation made native language speakers feel ashamed of the tongue, refuse to speak it and reject to teach it to their children. When a language is not spoken or taught any more, it begins to die.
Mexican activists pro rescuing Náhuatl agree that recognizing the cause is not enough. It is necessary to implement concrete actions. The newly published “Declaración de Escritores en Lenguas Indígenas 2019” (Declaration of Writers in Indigenous Languages 2019) is now an essential document in that regard. Its central objective is to promote the recognition and safeguarding of Náhuatl and other indigenous languages and their written manifestations. The document was proposed by “La Asociación de Escritores en Lenguas Indígenas” (The Association of Writers in Indigenous Languages) in Mexico. The proposal of the association is totally backed by UNESCO and it has been disseminated throughout the country.
One of the measures expressed in the proposal is focused on the dissemination of Náhuatl literature. The purpose is that education in Mexico includes the appreciation of Náhuatl language and culture through ancient and modern written documents by indigenous writers. For example, the Pre-hispanic poets Nezahualcoyotl of Texcoco, an illustrated man who expressed his metaphysical questions in his poetic work and Cacamatzin or Cacama who was king of Texcoco, the second most important city in the Aztec Empire. He revealed in his poetry more existential themes, such as war and friendship.
Another of the suggested actions concerns the teaching of Náhuatl in schools. For centuries speaking Náhuatl or any of the native languages of Mexico was synonymous with marginalization and discrimination. However, the perspective has changed. There has been a revaluation of the Pre-hispanic cultures and languages in Mexico. This has allowed knowledge about other ways of seeing life, nature, values and human experience. Hence, Náhuatl is being taught in some primary schools in the country. For example, in Plan de San Luis school in Morelos state, instructor Veronico Xixitla teaches Náhuatl. One of the most significant effects of this teaching is that children have been able to speak with their grand parents in Náhuatl for the first time. This marks a generational integration that was about to be lost. It is intended that the teaching of Náhuatl is extended to more regions in the country.
In conclusion, endangered languages contain an invaluable ancestral legacy. In Mexico, Náhuatl is the essence, the intrinsic nature that unites a powerful Aztec past with the Spanish heritage after the conquest. Therefore, the present of the Mexican nation is multicultural. No language should be above the other. And all indigenous languages should be preserved like Náhuatl which is the living witness of the origin of the Mexican people, the voice of a great civilization that should not be silenced.
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