Ayapaneco
Encyclopedia
Ayapaneco or Nuumte Oote (tr
. True Voice) is a language
of the Mixe–Zoque family, one of 68 indigenous languages of Mexico
. With only two fluent speakers remaining (Manuel Segovia, 75, and Isidro Velazquez, 69), the language was reported to be "at risk of dying out" by The Guardian
newspaper on 13 April 2011. A vibrant, albeit minority, language until the middle of the 20th century in Tabasco
, the language suffered after the introduction of compulsory education in Spanish
, urbanisation and migration of its speakers.
Daniel Suslak, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Indiana University
, is one of the linguists working to prepare the first dictionary of the language; his efforts have been hampered by the fact that Mssrs. Segovia and Velazquez do not like each other and refuse to speak, even as part of a recorded conversation for research purposes. The Instituto Nacional de Lenguas Indígenas
(INALI) (also known as the National Indigenous Languages Institute) has also shown its interest in revitalising the language.
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
. True Voice) is a language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
of the Mixe–Zoque family, one of 68 indigenous languages of Mexico
Languages of Mexico
The government of Mexico recognizes 68 distinct indigenous Amerindian languages as national languages in addition to Spanish. According to the Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples and National Institute of Indigenous Languages [INALI], while 10-14% of the population identifies as...
. With only two fluent speakers remaining (Manuel Segovia, 75, and Isidro Velazquez, 69), the language was reported to be "at risk of dying out" by The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper on 13 April 2011. A vibrant, albeit minority, language until the middle of the 20th century in Tabasco
Tabasco
Tabasco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tabasco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 17 municipalities and its capital city is Villahermosa....
, the language suffered after the introduction of compulsory education in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, urbanisation and migration of its speakers.
Daniel Suslak, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, is one of the linguists working to prepare the first dictionary of the language; his efforts have been hampered by the fact that Mssrs. Segovia and Velazquez do not like each other and refuse to speak, even as part of a recorded conversation for research purposes. The Instituto Nacional de Lenguas Indígenas
Instituto Nacional de Lenguas Indígenas
The Instituto Nacional de Lenguas Indígenas is a Mexican federal public agency, created 13 March 2003 by the enactment of the Ley General de Derechos Lingüísticos de los Pueblos Indígenas by the administration of President Vicente Fox...
(INALI) (also known as the National Indigenous Languages Institute) has also shown its interest in revitalising the language.