Totonac, Tecpatlán
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A language of Mexico
ISO 639-3
Autonym
Totonaca
Population
540 (2000 census). 110 monolinguals.
Location
Puebla state: Tecpatlán village, 2 communities northwest on Necaxa river tributary.
Language Maps
Language Status
6b (Threatened).
Classification
Dialects
None known. Most similar to Upper Necaxa Totonac [tku]. The 600-member community of Tecpatlán has 540 who identify themselves as local-language speakers. High levels of bilingualism in Nahuatl. Many may be primarily Nahuatl speakers. Northern Totonac [too] materials are reportedly difficult to understand.
Language Use
Moderate use. Not all parents pass it on to children. Local administration, commerce, religion. Mainly adults. Neutral attitudes. Most also use Spanish [spa], especially in schools. A few may also speak Nahuatl.
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 5%. Literacy rate in L2: 30%. NT: 1999.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Young people must leave to find jobs.