Interview with Dr. José Luis Iturrioz
[Excerpt]
Dr. José Luis Iturrioz, English and Mexican origin of hearts, a researcher at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, specializing in the study of indigenous languages. Teaching Grammar author of Huichol (2001), indigenous languages \u200b\u200band literatures Jalisco (2004), Grammar of the language wijarika (2006), won the Jalisco of Humanities (2007) and has been in the latter half of 2009 Professor guest - once again - at the University of Munich, Germany (LMU), which kindly agreed to this exclusive interview Sieteculebras .
What does the word 'Huichol'?
'Huichol' is derived from autonym [1] , ie a word that members of the Huichol culture appointing themselves. The current tendency is to believe, especially by indigenous people themselves and that the names that designate English and other European languages \u200b\u200bare originally proposed insults and so rejected and replaced by the names they have in their own languages. On the Internet, for example, is the information that the word 'Huichol' is a nickname applied to the Aztecs, the Huichol, but the etymologies proposed are totally unfounded. In fact, while many of the names of the area are of Aztec origin, and largely dismissive: for example, 'stuttering', some, or 'chichimecas' which means 'dog', other, etc., is necessary to make a few clarifications. First, not all names Aztecs were insults. Second, not all ethnonyms Huichol area are of Aztec origin. In a diachronic study on the Huichol loans taken from the English from the beginning of the Cologne show rigorously that in the seventeenth century the 's' word 'huisalica' was pronounced with a 'rr' is not vibrant, remains as such in the eastern area, which is the antecedent of the 'rr' in the West. That sound the English interpreted it as 'ch'. In some colonial documents the word appears as 'huitsolme', which refers to speakers of Nahuatl, intermediate English colonial administration, which put him at the Huichol word the plural marker - Nahuatl me that is also Nahuatl speakers took the floor provided the Huichol.
What geographical area comprising the Huichol culture today?
occupied almost the same since they were small in colonial times, to use the term that appears in the chronicles. The Huichol were reduced by the colonial troops between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to a specific territory, which is north of Jalisco, south of Durango and Zacatecas, most now live in the state of Jalisco, far Guadalajara, a little less neglected in previous centuries.
Does Huichol language receives some support for conservation?
That is precisely the main task of my research group. One way to fight against their extinction is conducting a scientific description of language as an indispensable basis for educational applications. You can pursue the training of qualified to teach Huichol native language in schools. Teaching grammars, which are an instrument of paramount importance for the revitalization of languages \u200b\u200band their transition to literacy. In this domain we are pioneers and we are setting an example to try to follow not only in Mexico but also in other countries like Chile. We do not take as a pattern or model to the English language, as they are essentially different. Huichol language is polysynthetic, and encodes most of the verb, in other words the complexity is lower. In the English language for each verb there are four names, ie a language English is nominal. On the contrary, is verbalizing the Huichol language tends to express everything with the word, pay attention not so much in things but in the process.
How do you see the future of the Huichol culture and its language and studies?
I have a motto that is "nothing produces more harm than ignorance." He who says that indigenous cultures are worthless, you do not know them. A language is a million times more valuable than an archaeological site. A language can not be reproduced once destroyed or reconstructed. If it is lost forever. Languages \u200b\u200bare the mirror of human capacity. For the Indians themselves must be taught to reflect on their language. Many people living in Peru or Mexico think that what they speak or what cooking is not good. The speakers themselves indigenous languages \u200b\u200bhave to change their minds, and know what they are worth their languages, as most ignored. That's a job to do within the communities, the changing attitudes to language and cultural values \u200b\u200bthey have of themselves, and out, and above all also convince it to mestizos.
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full interview:
SIETECULEBRAS - Revista de Cultura Andina, Cusco , Nr 28 (July-September 2010) 22-24.
[1] autonym : ethnic name, ethnonym or with a community that calls itself the cultural, linguistic, ethnic or national itself.
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