The Status of Náhuatl as a Minority Language
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18485/beoiber.2017.1.1.3Abstract
This paper offers a reflection on the linguistic and sociolinguistic status of Nahuatl, a language with the highest number of speakers among Indo-Mexican languages. Controversial issues about Nahuatl unity/diversity, pertinence of standardization and literacy are discussed here. In the last part, the effects of linguistic contact are analyzed and it is demonstrated that in spite of its 1.5 million speakers, it is a language in danger due to the ongoing displacement.
Key words: Nahuatl, standardization, linguistic displacement, loan words, convergence, compound code alternation.References
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