Indian and Ladino Bilingualism: Sociocultural Contrasts in Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract

The data on which the present paper is based were gathered by the field-workers, both linguits and social anthropologist, of the University of Chicago's projects among the Tzeltal and Tzotzil-speaking Indians of Chiapas, Mexico and among the Spanish-speakin non-Indians (Ladinos) of the same area (see Figure 1). There are considerable numbers of bilinguals in both groups, although the incidence of bilingualism varies greatly from place to place within the area. In the southern and southwerstern portions of the territory, where there are large numbers of Ladinos, there are many Indian bilinguals and practically no Ladinos who know anything of the indigenous language. In the northern and, in particular, in the northeastern parts of the area, these proportions are reversed. There are very few Ladinos, and these are, for the most part, bilingual. The agents of acculturation in the north are, in great part, the Ladinos who speak the Indian language. In the south, on the other hand, such agents are to be found among the Indians themeselves.