Sign in or 
Share this
Aztec Language
Although it seems that present-day languages have been around for ages, they are actually fairly recent. Nahuatl speakers arrived in the Valley of Mexico around 650 years ago, 800 A.D., and it later became the language of the Aztecs (Moreno). Nahuatl comes from the Uto-Aztecan family which has three different dialects. The first dialect is Pochutla which might have been the language the Tolecs used (Moreno). The second dialect is Pipil which is mostly found in Central America (Moreno). And the final dialect is Central Nahuatl which is the official language of the Aztecs (Moreno). Legends suggest that the Aztec name came from the homeland of Aztlan which was a marshy island in the middle of a lake (Schmal).
Most of the written language of the Aztecs includes pictures and designs that stand for a story, since they do not actually have a so-called “alphabet” like some cultures (Gray and Fiering). The hieroglyphics are very advanced for 1450. To preserve stories for the future generations, glyphs are drawn on stone, bark, and animal skin (Kubesh, McNeil and Bellotto). These are referred to as codices, which can be up to forty feet long and folded like a fan (Kubesh, McNeil and Bellotto). The Aztecs have hundreds of symbols and glyphs that represent specific things, like fish or birds, and all of these symbols come together to form a story or idea. These hieroglyphics are also expressed in their art. They have some symbols on pottery and other crafts. One of the most impressive things the Aztecs have written down is the 365 day calendar.
Not everyone in the civilization can actually write or even read most of the written language, mainly because it is difficult to learn. Specific people, called scribes, grow up learning how to make all of the symbols. Scribes had to know a lot of extra information because the pictures only gave a clue to the full meaning of the story (ThinkQuest). Priests are also taught how to write the symbols. Since only priests and scribes can read the symbols, they record Aztec history, medical anecdotes, business records, and any other things that need to be preserved like religious ceremonies (Althoff, Habeck and Hegseth).
Nahuatl’s written language establishes social and political organization because only the scribes and priests know most of the symbols well enough to read and write them. But, the language extends past the scribes and priests and into the lives of everyone in the Aztec civilization. They have rituals and songs that they chant in order to honor and thank the gods because those are their values and beliefs (Althoff, Habeck and Hegseth). The advanced 365 day calendar is known in more civilizations than just in the Aztec area. This calendar affects the environment and how they live their lives and run their society based on the seasons and other information it provides. The Aztec language as a whole is integrated in every part of society: religion, arts, economy, etc. Language provides power, technology, and social structure.
Gray, Edward G. and Norman Fiering. The Language Encounter in the Americas, 1492-1800. Berghahn Books, 2000.
Kubesh, Katie, Niki McNeil and Kimm Bellotto. Past Empires of the Americas Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas. n.d.
Moreno, Manuel Aguilar. Handbook to the Life of the Aztec World. n.d. Schmal, John P. Are you Related to the Aztecs? 30 January 2010 http://www.houstonculture.org/mexico/aztec.html.
ThinkQuest. Aztec Language. 30 January 2010 <http://library.thinkquest.org/27981/language.html>.
Most of the written language of the Aztecs includes pictures and designs that stand for a story, since they do not actually have a so-called “alphabet” like some cultures (Gray and Fiering). The hieroglyphics are very advanced for 1450. To preserve stories for the future generations, glyphs are drawn on stone, bark, and animal skin (Kubesh, McNeil and Bellotto). These are referred to as codices, which can be up to forty feet long and folded like a fan (Kubesh, McNeil and Bellotto). The Aztecs have hundreds of symbols and glyphs that represent specific things, like fish or birds, and all of these symbols come together to form a story or idea. These hieroglyphics are also expressed in their art. They have some symbols on pottery and other crafts. One of the most impressive things the Aztecs have written down is the 365 day calendar.
Not everyone in the civilization can actually write or even read most of the written language, mainly because it is difficult to learn. Specific people, called scribes, grow up learning how to make all of the symbols. Scribes had to know a lot of extra information because the pictures only gave a clue to the full meaning of the story (ThinkQuest). Priests are also taught how to write the symbols. Since only priests and scribes can read the symbols, they record Aztec history, medical anecdotes, business records, and any other things that need to be preserved like religious ceremonies (Althoff, Habeck and Hegseth).
Nahuatl’s written language establishes social and political organization because only the scribes and priests know most of the symbols well enough to read and write them. But, the language extends past the scribes and priests and into the lives of everyone in the Aztec civilization. They have rituals and songs that they chant in order to honor and thank the gods because those are their values and beliefs (Althoff, Habeck and Hegseth). The advanced 365 day calendar is known in more civilizations than just in the Aztec area. This calendar affects the environment and how they live their lives and run their society based on the seasons and other information it provides. The Aztec language as a whole is integrated in every part of society: religion, arts, economy, etc. Language provides power, technology, and social structure.
Works Cited
Althoff, Chris, Randy Habeck and Brad Hegseth. The Aztec Culture. 30 January 2010 http://www.angelfire.com/az/atid410/. Gray, Edward G. and Norman Fiering. The Language Encounter in the Americas, 1492-1800. Berghahn Books, 2000.
Kubesh, Katie, Niki McNeil and Kimm Bellotto. Past Empires of the Americas Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas. n.d.
Moreno, Manuel Aguilar. Handbook to the Life of the Aztec World. n.d. Schmal, John P. Are you Related to the Aztecs? 30 January 2010 http://www.houstonculture.org/mexico/aztec.html.
ThinkQuest. Aztec Language. 30 January 2010 <http://library.thinkquest.org/27981/language.html>.
mwesch |
Latest page update: made by mwesch
, Feb 5 2010, 12:30 PM EST
(about this update
About This Update
Edited by mwesch
5 words added 4 words deleted view changes - complete history) |
|
Keyword tags:
None
More Info: links to this page
|
There are no threads for this page.
Be the first to start a new thread.
