Nahuatl – an Uto-Aztecan language – is spoken by an estimated 1.5 million people in Mexico. The language is the basis for many words that are used in modern-day Mexican Spanish, some of which even made their way into the English language. One prime example is the word avocado, but there are many other indigenous Nahuatl words that are widely used today, including chocolate, coyote, shack, and more.
While there is a significant number of speakers, the Nahuatl language is actually on the decline. Here’s an overview of the history of the decline of the Nahuatl language, as well as a look at some efforts to preserve this indigenous language.
The Decline of the Nahuatl Language
Between the 14th and 16th centuries, Nahuatl was the Aztec’s lingua franca. Essentially, it served as a common language between speakers of other indigenous languages, allowing populations that relied on languages that were otherwise dissimilar to communicate effectively.
With the arrival of Spanish conquistadors – and the subsequent subjugation of indigenous peoples – the Spanish language began to rise in the region. At one point, King Charles of Spain soon declared that all indigenous people in Mexico had to be taught Spanish.
While indigenous people were largely resistant to the push, some Nahuatl speakers learned Spanish, and Spanish priests learned Nahuatl, often serving as translators between the Spaniards and natives. Ultimately, this approach was deemed mutually beneficial, preventing the immediate demise of Nahuatl.
However, Spanish did begin influencing Nahuatl, causing Nahuatl speakers to adopt Spanish terms, the use of plurals, and some sentence structure that wasn’t initially present in Nahuatl. Additionally, as more time passed, Spanish became the official language of Mexico, ultimately putting Spanish on the path toward becoming the dominant language.
Efforts to Preserve the Nahuatl Language
With Spanish becoming the official language in Mexico, the decline of Nahuatl continued. While some smaller communities do rely on Nahuatl, it wasn’t formally part of education for a significant period. Instead, lessons relied heavily on Spanish, regardless of the student’s native language.
Initial efforts in bilingual education weren’t focused on preserving Nahuatl. Instead, the goal was effective enough communication to ensure students were assimilated into the larger Spanish-speaking culture. Often, this came at the cost of the Nahuatl language. Additionally, in modern Mexico, indigenous people are often subject to prejudice. In turn, this made the preservation of the Nahuatl language more difficult, as learning Spanish often became critical to increase access to opportunities. Essentially, discrimination became a challenge for native Nahuatl speakers, and speaking Spanish was a way to reduce the odds of experiencing difficulties related to it.
In some cases, indigenous people were even resistant to bilingual education, primarily because indigenous descent had negative connotations. The notion that Nahuatl speakers are held back became increasing pervasive. This was particularly true in the context of work, where Spanish often dominated and was frequently considered the most practical language for communication in that context. Fears about Spanish continuing to morph Nahuatl also remained.
However, in recent times, preservation efforts continued. The National Institute of Indigenous Languages (INALI) advocates for indigenous languages and cultures, promoting both diversity and preservation. The Bilingual Literacy for Life (BLLP) / MEVyT Indígena Bilingüe (MIB) Program promotes literacy in both Spanish and indigenous languages, while the Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas concentrates specifically on preserving Nahuatl. But many of these programs struggle with lack of funding, limiting their capabilities.
While the efforts above are impactful, overcoming the decline of Nahuatl may take more than they can currently offer. As a result, Nahuatl will likely continue to become less prevalent and may even be lost to the ages far faster than some would expect.
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