Mixtec, Alacatlatzala

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A language of Mexico

ISO 639-3
mim
Alternate Names
Highland Guerrero Mixtec, Mixteco de Alacatlatzala, To’on Savi
Population

30,000 in Mexico (2011 SIL). 60% monolingual.

Location

East Guerrero, southwest to south of Tlapa, Alacatlatzala, Cahuatache, Tenaztalcingo, Jilotepec, Zacatipa, Tototepec, Cuba Libre, San Isidro Labrador, Quiahuitlatlatzala, Xonacatlán, Tepecocatlán, Cuautipa, Ocuapa, and Potoichan towns; Acapulco, Guerrero; Cuautla, Morelos; Culiacán, Sinaloa; San Quintín area, Baja California. Also in United States.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Otomanguean, Eastern Otomanguean, Amuzgo-Mixtecan, Mixtecan, Mixtec
Dialects

Atlamajalcingo del Monte, Cahuatache Tototepec, Cuatzoquitengo, Plan de Guadalupe, Potoichan (Ocuapa). 65%–85% intelligibility of Metlatónoc [mxv]. Some had 70% intelligibility of Silacayoapan [mks].

Typology

VSO; clitics; tonal

Language Use

Vigorous. Children of parents who have left the area understand Mixtec, but speak only Spanish [spa]. Very few other language speakers use this Mixtec language. Some use a Mixtec variety when communicating with Metlatónoc [mxv] and Xochapa [xta] speakers, though average comprehension is only around 70%, more for men, less for women. Less than 5% use a Tlapanec or Nahuatl variety due to intermarriage. Home, friends, religion, work. All ages. Mixed attitudes. Pride in Mixtec growing slowly with interest in Mixtec literacy, but Spanish [spa] still often preferred for reading and writing.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 5%. Literacy rate in L2: 30%. Bilingual schools are increasing; sufficient materials are lacking and desire for literacy remains somewhat limited. Dialects are orally intelligible, but differences from town to town make it difficult to use the same written materials. Adaptation of materials needed for 3–4 subdialects. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1990–2010.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mixtec, Alacatlatzala
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Not enough land to support everyone, so many leave to find jobs elsewhere. Traditional religion, Christian.