What is a Multidialectal Nahuatl Language Class?
What is a dialect?
A form of a language that people speak in a particular part of a country or region, containing some different words and grammar, etc.:
-regional dialect: the various regional dialects are still spoken locally.
-in dialect: The poem is written in northern dialect.
What does multidialectal mean?
Using more than one dialect which is a form of a language that people speak in a particular area.
-a multi-dialectal environment.
-it is difficult for newcomers to adapt to the multilingual and multidialectal nature of Mesoamerican Indigenous Languages.
What is a Multidialectal Nahuatl language class?
A multidialectal approach to learning Nahuatl involves considering and respecting the various dialects spoken across Nahuatl-speaking regions, rather than focusing on just one dialect, such as Classical Nahuatl. This approach is in contrast to older methods that primarily focused on CN (Classical Nahuatl), which is more formal and no longer spoken. For this reason, it is not always applicable to everyday conversations.
What about Classical Nahuatl?
In the past and in the present, people believed and still believe that learning CN was and is the ideal way because it's the language in "its purest form" and that it's the "mother dialect." However, that is far from the truth because CN is a central dialect that was compiled under the authority of Spanish friars for the purpose of evangelization (spreading their beliefs). Furthermore, CN is taught as a classical language, as a dead language and the methods used are only for purposes of reading literature thus can also be called Literary Nahuatl. Because of this, it has limitations, as it is not useful in everyday situations, making it difficult to understand and communicate in informal settings.
Does a multidialectal approach mean learning all dialects at the same time?
No. The multidialectal approach to Nahuatl recognizes the language as a diverse collection of dialects that vary based on social, cultural, and geographic contexts. This approach aims to raise students' awareness of the language's diversity, allowing them to learn various dialects starting from one base dialect. It also incorporates differences in word usage, meanings, and regional variations, acknowledging that each region, city, and town has its own unique version of Nahuatl.
How does the multidialectal approach to learning Nahuatl address classroom concerns and challenges?
Implementing the multidialectal approach involves adhering to these principles, addressing common concerns, and overcoming challenges in the classroom. Overall, it provides a more flexible and practical way to learn Nahuatl, tailored to the diverse needs of Nahuatl-speaking communities, language revitalizers, and individuals seeking to reclaim their own dialects.
What We Do
We are a collective of language workers: learners, teachers and revitalizers. Besides teaching and learning, we work in language revitalization projects and offer trilingual translation services: Nahuatl, English & Spanish. To stay up-to-date with our offerings, please go here: https://linktr.ee/speaknahuatl.
Sources
•https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/multidialectal
• https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/dialect
• https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multidialectal
• https://emmatrentman.com/2022/01/14/does-a-multidialectal-approach-mean-teaching-all-of-the-dialects/
• Teachers at Speaknahuatl.com
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