Otomi language (Jalisco)

Otomi is an extinct, unclassified Mesoamerican language formerly spoken in the state of Jalisco, Mexico.

This article is about the extinct language formerly spoken in Jalisco. For the living language, see Otomi language.
Otomi
RegionJalisco, Mexico
Extinct(date missing)
Language codes
ISO 639-3None (mis)

It is uncertain if the Otomi language of Jalisco is related to the Otomi language spoken elsewhere in Mexico, or if it is an unrelated language with the same name.[1][2]

Geographic distribution

Otomi was spoken in the province of Amula, in the communities of Cuzalapa (now in the municipality of Cuautitlán de García Barragán), Tuxcacuesco, and Zapotitlán de Vadillo.[3][4] Nahuatl was also spoken in these communities.[4]

Sources

The use of the Otomi language was described in a relación geográfica made in 1579 by Francisco de Agüero, alcalde mayor of the province of Amula.[5] The relación also mentions an Otomi name, Ercape, said to mean "a flea that itches greatly".[6]

The language is also mentioned, though not named, by Antonio de Ciudad Real, who visited Tuxcacuesco and Zapotitlán with Alonso Ponce in 1587. He called it "a unique language" (Spanish: una lengua particular).[7]

Extinction

Otomi became extinct due to the community shifting from using Otomi to using Nahuatl as their primary language.[8] Nahuatl had become a lingua franca in the pre-Columbian era, being used as the administrative language of the Aztec Empire and as a trade language beyond the empire's borders, and was subsequently also promoted by the Spaniards after the Spanish conquest.[9] Nearby languages that went extinct in similar circumstances include Cochin, Sayultec, Tiam, Tamazultec, and Zapotec.

Citations
  1. Gerhard 1993, p. 46.
  2. Harvey 1972, p. 312.
  3. Harvey 1972, p. 322.
  4. Cline 1972, p. 327.
  5. Agüero 1878.
  6. Agüero 1878, pp. 317–318.
  7. Ciudad Real 1993, p. 138.
  8. Harvey 1972, p. 313.
  9. Harvey 1972, p. 299.

References
  • Agüero, Francisco de (1878) [1579]. "Discripcion [sic] de Zapotitlan, Tuscacuesco y Cusalapa, por el alcalde mayor Francisco de Aguero" [Description of Zapotitlán, Tuxcacuesco and Cuzalapa, by the alcalde mayor Francisco de Agüero]. Noticias varias de Nueva Galicia, intendencia de Guadalajara [Various reports of Nueva Galicia, intendency of Guadalajara] (in Spanish). Guadalajara: Tip. de Banda, ex-convento de Santa María de Gracia. pp. 282–321.
  • Ciudad Real, Antonio de (1993). García Quintana, Josefina; Castillo Farreras, Víctor M. (eds.). Tratado curioso y docto de las grandezas de la Nueva España [Curious and Learned Treatise on the Grandeurs of New Spain] (in Spanish). Vol. II (3rd ed.). ISBN 968-36-2811-7.
  • Cline, Howard F. (1972). "A Census of the Relaciones Geográficas, 1579–1612". Handbook of Middle American Indians. Vol. 12: Guide to Ethnohistorical Sources, Part One. Austin: University of Texas Press. pp. 324–369. ISBN 0-292-70152-7.
  • Gerhard, Peter (1993). A Guide to the Historical Geography of New Spain (revised ed.). Norman and London: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 0-8061-2553-5.
  • Harvey, H. R. (1972). "The Relaciones Geográficas, 1579–1586: Native Languages". Handbook of Middle American Indians. Vol. 12: Guide to Ethnohistorical Sources, Part One. Austin: University of Texas Press. pp. 279–323. ISBN 0-292-70152-7.
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