Preservation of the Nahuat Language: Heritage and transmission among the Indigenous Peoples of Sonsonate, El Salvador

Abstract

International organizations’ recognition of the loss of the Nahuat language highlights the irreparable damage caused by events and policies from 1932. Acts of violence against the Nahuat population have resulted in a loss of their identity as indigenous peoples, which encompasses a rich cultural heritage, including their language, traditions, and worldview regarding life, nature, and society. The loss of the right to communicate in their native tongue becomes evident when connected to the testimonies of individuals and their communities, who express resistance to the right to speak a language different from that of colonization. Consequently, this situation leads to the symbolic violence of erasing an indigenous language inherited from their ancestors. This study observed the lived experiences of the people who comprise this community, allowing them to speak in their native language and engage in activities integral to their culture. It also highlighted the disadvantaged living conditions they face compared to the rest of Salvadoran society, significantly impacting the social, economic, and cultural realities that continue to obscure the conditions of the community, especially as the language fades.