Classical Nahuatl - beginner group 3700-CS-JNAHKL1-OG

The theme of the course is classical/colonial Nahuatl (Aztec) language, with a special focus on translating the sixteenth-century source texts. Nahuatl is the language of the most extensive corpus of indigenous sources in the Americas, documenting encounter between the indigenous world and the Europeans. As a lingua franca of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and language of the Aztec Empire, Nahuatl is also a key to understanding the richness of pre-Hispanic cultures. Despite a process of Hispanization lasting for five centuries until the present day, Nahuatl remains in use in modern times in its many variants surviving in traditional communities in Mexico. The course offers a possibility to acquire basic abilities in reading early colonial relations and documents about Nahua culture and complex realities of New Spain. Participants will learn basic grammar and vocabulary to an extent which makes it possible to translate source documents from the colonial period.
Original texts—historical accounts, documents regarding various aspects of life and indigenous literature—will be introduced already in the first term (first in adaptation, then as original texts). Part of the classes will embrace learning the basics of colonial paleography.

Type of course

general courses

Prerequisites (description)

At least passive knowledge of English is necessary, knowledge of Spanish is welcome, but not required.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge:

- basic knowledge of classical/colonial Nahuatl (orthographic conventions, phonology, grammar and basic vocabulary), which can be subsequently expanded on intermediate and advanced classes
- basic knowledge about objective and methodological specifics of studying the Nahuatl culture and the culture of colonial Mesoamerica
- basic knowledge about colonial written texts in Nahuatl (genres, conventions, topics)
- aspects of intercultural transfer and linguistic change under the influence of an intensive contact with other languages (case of Nahuatl-Spanish contact)

Skills:

- ability to translate simple or adapted source texts from Nahuatl to Polish
- basic abilities to analyze original texts
- ability to participate in a discussion about cultural studies and linguistics, including ability to make a logical argument and draw critical conclusions

Social competences:

- awareness of importance of the complex nature of language in philological and cultural studies
- awareness of necessity of the teamwork in an interdisciplinary group
- understanding of fundamental challenges in studying culture and intercivilizational relations
- understanding of importance of preserving richness, integrity and awareness of the cultural heritage

Assessment criteria

Translation skills verified in a formal written exam (translation of examples containing particular grammatical forms and a short text). During the exam students can use dictionaries (XVI-century Diccionario de la lengua nahuatl by Alonso de Molina and modern An Analytical Dictionary of Nahuatl by Francis Karttunen). 2 absences a semester are allowed.

Bibliography

Dictionaries:
 Alonso de Molina Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana, y mexicana y castellana. Mexico 1571.
 Francis Karttunen An Analytical Dictionary of Nahuatl, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman and London 1992.

Studies:
 Arthur J.O. Anderson, Grammatical examples, exercises, & review for use with Rules of the Aztec language, University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City 1973
 J. Richard Andrews, Introduction to classical Nahuatl, University of Texas Press, Austin 1975, 2005
 R. Joe Campbell, Frances Karttunen, Foundation course in Nahuatl grammar, Institute of Latin American Studies, The University of Texas Press, Austin 1989
 Michel Launey, Introduction à la langue et à la littérature aztèques, L'Harmattan, Paris 1979-1980
 James Lockhart, Nahuatl as Written: Lessons in Older Written Nahuatl, with Copious Examples and Texts, Stanford Univ. Press, 2001
 Miguel León Portilla, Historia de la literatura mexicana. Periodo prehispánico, Alhambra Mexicana, México 1989

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 3700-CS-JNAHKL1-OG in USOSweb