3,500-Year-Old Mesoamerican Triqui Language Has Survived In The Mountains Of The Mixteca Alta Region Of Oaxaca, Mexico

Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com – The Triqui language, with a history spanning approximately 3,500 years, stands as a remarkable example of linguistic resilience in an era when many ancient traditions and languages are fading. Although it is not widely spoken among younger generations, many adults in the mountainous Mixteca Alta region of Oaxaca, Mexico—and even in communities beyond—continue to use Triqui.

San Andrés Chicahuaxtla, Oaxaca. Photo: courtesy of Fidel Hernández Mendoza.

Researchers have closely examined the evolution of this ancient language. Fidel Hernández Mendoza, a researcher affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation at the National School of Anthropology and History (ENAH), explains that Triqui is a tonal language featuring five distinct tones: extra low, low, medium, high, and extra high. These tones are crucial because they can alter both word meanings and grammatical functions.

Locally known as Nánj nìn’in in Chicahuaxtla, which translates to “complete language”, Triqui is primarily spoken in three municipalities: Santiago Juxtlahuaca, Putla Villa de Guerrero, and San Martín Itunyoso. These areas represent the historical heartland of the Triqui people. Over time, Triqui-speaking communities have also established themselves in other Mexican states, such as Sonora, Sinaloa, and Baja California, and even in the United States.

Bánj nìn’in is the self-designation of the language in Chicahuaxtla and means “complete language.” Photo: courtesy of Fidel Hernández Mendoza.

While there are limited archaeological records of their origins or early history—apart from some place names indicating ties to the Mexica Empire—it is known that, for at least 600 years, the Triqui people have inhabited regions such as Chicahuaxtla and San Juan Copala. Linguistically, the Triqui language belongs to the Otomanguean family and is related to Tu’un Savi (Mixtec) and Dbaku (Cuicatec), which together form the Mixtec language family.

Triqui is an indigenous language of Mexico, with a history spanning approximately 3,500 years. Photo: courtesy of Fidel Hernández Mendoza.

“Some studies say that Triqui separated from the Mixtec language family approximately 1,500 years before Christ, so we can say that it has a history of around 3,500 years,” Mendoza pointed out, underscoring its impressive longevity as one of Mesoamerica’s enduring languages.

There are three linguistic variants that share systems but also have significant differences in phonology and vocabulary, making communication between them difficult.

In recent years, children under 12 in Chicahuaxtla have shown interest in revitalizing their native language. Photo: courtesy of Fidel Hernández Mendoza.

“There are three different phonological systems and around 60 Triqui-speaking communities in the native region of Oaxaca; the largest is Copala, with more than 40 localities,” he explained. The Professor from ENAH noted that the most noticeable differences appear in vocabulary. “In the segmental linguistic system of nánj nìn’in, there are more changes, but the tonal system is more stable, perhaps due to the strong presence of tone in the general grammar of the language,” he asserted.

Regarding the vitality of the language, he noted that among adults, Triqui is commonly spoken in the street, at community meetings, and in other community spaces as the primary means of communication. The situation differs among young people and varies from community to community. In Chicahuaxtla, most people between 12 and 20 years old no longer speak Triqui, having shifted to monolingual Spanish; however, children under 12 are still learning the language.

Researcher Fidel Hernández participated in the ENAH Radio podcast, “The Route of Languages: A Journey Through Mexico’s Linguistic Diversity.” Photo: Courtesy of Fidel Hernández Mendoza.

In his podcast “The Route of Languages, a Journey Through the Linguistic Diversity of Mexico,” Professor Mendoza also discussed language revitalization projects, highlighting those related to education. Among these, Colectivo Triqui stands out as an initiative that has offered literacy workshops to the community, as well as visual landscape projects and a mobile library with around 600 titles in both nánj nìn’in and Spanish. “The teaching of native languages in general is often limited to vocabulary and phrases, but does not delve into grammar, precisely because there is little information,” he concluded.

See also: More Archaeology News

The episode is available on Ivoox, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. “The Route of Languages” is produced by ENAH Radio and the ENAH Audiovisual Media Department, based on an original idea by Nayeli Rodríguez Arias. Its aim is to share Mexico’s diverse languages and promote respect for them and their speakers.

Source: INAH

Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer