Indigenous Languages Not Being Passed Along to Younger Generations in Mexico The News
go to original October 15, 2013

Worldfocus special correspondent Lynn Sherr and producer Megan Thompson highlight Mexico's attempt to preserve the past by speaking ancient languages in the present tense. (worldfocusonline)

Many indigenous languages in Mexico are not being passed along to the younger generation as both parents and teachers privilege learning Spanish over indigenous languages, according to a study by the National Committee for the Development of Indigenous Peoples (CNI).

The study, based on information provided by the National Statistics, Geography and Information Institute (INEGI), looked at the number of speakers of each of Mexico’s indigenous languages in different sets of age groups.

According to the study, Maya — which is the third most spoken language in Mexico — is one of the languages with the fewest speakers.

Ludka de Gortari, a CDI anthropologist, said that many Maya speakers have the false idea that their children will go farther in life if they learn Spanish as their first language, adding that many parents and teachers are unaware that if their children are fluent in an indigenous language, it becomes easier to learn Spanish.

Gortari went on to say that Tzetzal and Tzotzil, spoken by indigenous groups in Chiapas, are the languages that are most learned by young people, which she said is due to the high level of appreciation among the speakers for their ancestral traditions.

Náhuatl, which is the second most spoken language in Mexico after Spanish, is also rapidly losing speakers.

See the original at The News

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