The Land of Many Languages
Spanish is the predominant language in Mexico, but did you know it's not the country's official language? As a matter of fact, Mexico doesn't even have an official language. This opens up the country for people who speak any language!
What happened at first was that the Spanish forced the natives to speak Spanish, but now in the 1990s the Mexican government recognized 62 indian languages as national languages. About six percent of Mexico's current population is non-Spanish speaking.
What happened at first was that the Spanish forced the natives to speak Spanish, but now in the 1990s the Mexican government recognized 62 indian languages as national languages. About six percent of Mexico's current population is non-Spanish speaking.
(Above) A map illustrating the locations of which a native language has over 100,000 speakers.
Here is a list of the indigenous languages of Mexico: (all credit goes to Wikipedia)
Here is a list of the indigenous languages of Mexico: (all credit goes to Wikipedia)
- Nahuatl (Nahualt, Nahuat, Nahual, Melatahtol) 1,376,026
- Yucatec Maya (Maaya t'aan) 759,000
- Mixtec (Tu'un sávi) 423,216Z
- apotec (Diidxaza) 410,901
- Tzeltal Maya (K'op o winik atel) 371,730
- Tzotzil Maya (Batsil k'op) 329,937O
- tomí (Hñä hñü) 239,850
- Totonac (Tachihuiin) 230,930
- Mazatec (Ha shuta enima) 206,559
- Ch'ol (Mayan) (Winik) 185,299
- Huastec (Téenek) 149,532
- Chinantec (Tsa jujmí) 125,706
- Mixe (Ayüük) 115,824
- Mazahua (Jñatho) 111,840
- Tarascan (P'urhépecha) 105,556
- Tlapanec (Me'phaa) 98,573
- Tarahumara (Rarámuri) 75,371
- Amuzgo (Tzañcue) 43,761
- Chatino (Cha'cña) 42,791
- Tojolab'al (Tojolwinik otik) 43,169
- Popoluca (Zoquean)(Tuncápxe) 54,004
- Chontal de Tabasco(Yokot t'an) 43,850
- Huichol (Wixárika) 35,724
- Mayo (Yoreme) 32,702
- Tepehuán (O'dam) 31,681
- Trique (Tinujéi) 24,491
- Cora (Naáyarite) 17,086
- Popoloca (Oto-manguean) 18,926
- Huave (Ikoods) 15,993
- Cuicatec (Nduudu yu) 12,610
- Yaqui (Yoem Noki or Hiak Nokpo) 14,162
- Q'anjob'al 10,833
- Tepehua (Hamasipini)10,625
- Pame (Xigüe) 9,768
- Mam (Qyool) 8,739
- Chontal de Oaxaca(Slijuala sihanuk) 5,534
- Chuj 2,143
- Tacuate (Mixtec de Santa María Zacatepec) (Tu'un Va'a) 2,067
- Chichimeca jonaz (Úza) 1,987
- Guarijío (Warihó) 1,905
- Chocho (Runixa ngiigua) 1,078
- Pima Bajo (Oob No'ok) 836Q
- 'eqchí (Q'eqchí) 835
- Lacandón (Hach t'an) 731
- Jakaltek (Poptí) (Abxubal) 584
- Matlatzinca/Ocuilteco(Tlahuica) 522
- Seri (Cmiique iitom) 518
- Ixcatec 406
- K'iche' 286
- Kaqchikel 230
- Paipai (Jaspuy pai) 221
- Cucapá (Kuapá) 206
- Mototzintleco (Qatok) 186
- Kumiai (Ti'pai) 185
- Pápago (O'odham) 153
- Kikapú (Kikapoa) 144
- Ixil 108
- Cochimí (Laymón, mti'pá) 96
- Kiliwa language (Ko'lew) 55
- Aguacatec 27
- Other languages 1337