Popolocan languages
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Popolocan | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution: |
Oaxaca, Mexico |
| Genetic classification: |
Oto-Manguean Popolocan |
| Subdivisions: |
Ixcatec (a single language)
|
The Popolocan languages are a subfamily of the Oto-Manguean language family of Mexico, spoken mainly in the state of Oaxaca.
The Popolocan languages should not be confused with the languages called Popoluca spoken in the state of Veracruz, which belong to the unrelated Mixe-Zoquean language family. The term comes from the Nahuatl language and means to speak unintelligibly, which is why Nahuatl speakers called several different unrelated languages "Popolōca". The Nahuatl term was later adopted by the Spanish. The convention now is that the Oto-Manguean languages are referred to as "Popoloca" and the Mixe-Zoquean languages are referred to as "Popoluca", although the latter term is falling into disuse.
The Popolocan languages are subdivided into:
- the Chocho-Popolocan languages (including the Chochotec language and a number of related languages called Popoloca)
- Ixcatec (a single language)
- the Mazatecan languages (including a number of related languages called Mazatec)
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