Endangered Languages Projects

The following projects include the documentation of the Chatino language:

Documentation of Chatino, an Otomanguean language group of Oaxaca, Mexico

Anthony Woodbury, University of Texas at Austin. 2007-2010.

Chatino is a group of closely related language varieties belonging to the Zapotecan branch of the Otomanguean language family. It is spoken by most of the 29,000 Chatinos of Oaxaca, Mexico’s, Sierra Madre: universally in some communities but only by elders in others. We will document the Chatino varieties of Quiahije, Yaitepec, Zacatepec, and one other locations in depth; and survey others. Our humanistic goal is to bring together indigenous graduate students, language interns, and other ... more

Investigating an undocumented sign language in a Chatino speech/sign community

Lynn Hou, University of Texas at Austin. 2012-2013.

Chatino Sign is an undocumented emergent sign language located in the villages of San Juan Quiahije and Cieneguilla in the Southern Sierra Nevada mountains of Oaxaca. Chatino Sign is the language used by at least 5 deaf people and their families and friends. This pilot study aims to investigate the size, scope, and membership of the signing community and to collect videotaped naturally-occurring conversational and elicited texts of Chatino Sign. This will establish a solid foundation for future ... more