Nahuatl Dialects

Nahuatl Dialects

The many dialects of the Nahuatl language belong to the Nahuan branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family, and form a group of linguistic varieties spoken in central Mexico. Some authorities, such as the Mexican government and Ethnologue, consider the modern Nahuatl varieties separate languages, because they are often mutually unintelligible and represent distinct ethnic identities. As of 2008, the Mexican government recognizes thirty varieties that are spoken in Mexico (see the list below).

Researchers distinguish between several dialect areas that each have a number of shared features: One classification scheme distinguishes innovative central dialects, spoken around Mexico City, from conservative peripheral ones spoken north, south and east of the central area, while another scheme distinguishes a basic split between western and eastern dialects.