Zapoteco

Zapoteco is a family of indigenous languages spoken in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca and in parts of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The Zapotec people, who historically inhabited the region, are responsible for the language's development and continued use. There is not a single Zapoteco language, but rather a collection of distinct varieties that are often not mutually intelligible. These variations can differ significantly in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar, leading linguists to categorize them into several major groups, such as Valley Zapoteco, Isthmus Zapoteco, and Sierra Zapoteco.

The history of Zapoteco is deeply intertwined with the ancient Zapotec civilization, which flourished in Oaxaca for centuries, leaving behind impressive archaeological sites like Monte Albán. During the pre-Columbian era, Zapoteco was likely a lingua franca in much of southern Mexico. Following the Spanish conquest, efforts were made to document and teach Zapoteco, contributing to early linguistic studies.

Despite the historical significance of Zapoteco, many of its varieties face challenges due to factors like migration, intergenerational language transmission decline, and the dominance of Spanish. However, there are ongoing efforts by communities and cultural organizations to preserve and revitalize the language through education programs, cultural events, and the creation of new media in Zapoteco. The number of speakers varies greatly among the different Zapoteco languages, with some having hundreds of thousands of speakers and others facing a more precarious future.