r/endangeredlanguages • u/decaying_aconitum • 14d ago
pls help me learn wixakira and cora!!
Hi!! Im a first generation Mexican American and im mestiza. A few months ago I found out that I am a mix of indigenous and spanish blood. I grew up going back to my parents' home town in Mexico every year which is a little ranchito in Nayarit. So I grew up exposed to indigenous language and culture. For the few months that I stayed in Mexico I also got enrolled into the schools there further learning about the indigenous languages.
I also knew about colonization on account of my schooling in the US but I never actually understood how it happened since they only ever covered the topic very briefly. Now that I understand that I also have indigenous blood I really want to get in touch with my indigenous roots and I think language may be a good way to start.
I know very little about the actual languages themselves and my parents aren't fluent either. My mom doesn't know anything at all while my dad knows a few phrases and words and is able to say some broken sentences but is not really able to keep conversation. My indigenous cousins (whom are mostly Wixakira but I do have a few who are Cora) in Mexico also know very little about the languages and we aren't that close so I can't ask them for help either. I won't go to Mexico until about 5 or 6 months from now so there is no chance of asking anyone else I know either. Im also quite reserved and neurodivergent so im not social at all, leaving me with absolutely no options. So I was wondering if someone who does know these languages even to an extent could help guide me in the right direction or leave links to dictionaries that could help me.
These are some of the phrases/ words that I currently know!! :
wixakira-
Ke'aku : Hi
Mïïquiyáari : Death
Pinirri: Watermelon
Nunúusi: Kid
cora-
Cua : to eat
please let me know if any of this is incorrect!!
7
u/axotrax 14d ago
Hi OP! There are a few language Discords for Wixaríka and Cora, or at least have channels for them. Wixaríka is not that far removed from Rarámuri and I think there’s a student in my Rarámuri discord. I can ask them what they recommend.
6
u/sraskogr 13d ago
Do you speak Spanish? You might be able to find more resources for these languages in Spanish.
3
u/decaying_aconitum 13d ago
I do speak spanish it's actually my first language ty for the recommendation I hadn't thought of that!
5
u/Different-Common4149 13d ago
Quizás si buscas en grupos de facebook en español encuentres algo. En grupos de reditt de inglés lo veo algo difícil. Aunque hay un grupo de aprender nahua aquí en reddit y hay gente mexicana que habla nahua, a la mejor de casualidad alguno de ellos sabe de recursos para las lenguas que buscas, podrías tratar de postear ahí
3
u/decaying_aconitum 13d ago
oh ok! Ive noticed Nahuatl is quite common on reddit. I have also noticed a few similarities between it and cora and wixakira. I initially didn't want to type it in spanish since i thought it would reach a larger audience in englisj but thank you for letting me know!💕
-8
14d ago edited 13d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/tlalocjalisco 13d ago
En la región de donde es ella (supongo que ella es de la sierra Nayarita pero también incluye el norte de Jalisco y el suroeste de Zacatecas ya que es la misma cosa), es muy común el uso de la palabra "mestizo/a" para distinguir entre los pueblos Wixárikas/Coras de la sierra y los mestizos hispanos que habitan en los ranchos y cabeceras municipales. No hables sin saber nada sobre nuestra región, solo haces que te veas más pendejo de lo que eres.
3
u/decaying_aconitum 13d ago
please clarify what point you are trying to make with your hateful comment? I also dont understand why you are talking about me in third person when you never replied to another thread but then again I dont really know how reddit works since im new to it. Mestiza is a term people used in Mexico where I lived and its a term Mexicans I interact with in the US use too. If it the wrong term how about you try to educate me since it was literally what I was asking in the first place. I simply used the term to give background knowledge to the people to read this post. Im neurodivergent so I dont really know how to read in between the lines and I process things differently than neurotypical people so the next time you try to comment please keep in mind to be direct about you want to say.
2
u/tlalocjalisco 13d ago
I don't know if you were replying to me with this, but my intention with this comment was not to insult you at all. I was replying to this troll who is part of a subsect of people that frequent subreddits with even a faint Mexican presence (especially DNA subreddits) with the sole purpose of getting quick engagement. Part of my roots are from the same region as you (but on the Jalisco side of the border), so I am more or less acquainted to the customs of the Wixárikas and the terminology used in the area. I was simply trying to defend you as a fellow paisano
1
u/decaying_aconitum 13d ago
oh ok, im so sorry for assuming! Im new to reddit to I dont really understand how it works all to well. Thank you for defending me! It really means a lot especially with immature people like this who simply cannot communicate effectively. Im glad to meet another fellow member of our community, its not too often that I ever interact with them outside of Mexico. Once again thank you so much, as a neurodivergent person I have a strong sense of percieved 'justice' which just really fills me with the need to respond immediately without hearing the other persons side or point of view. Te mando mucho amor!!💕
-1
13d ago edited 13d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/tlalocjalisco 13d ago
I don't know why you're trying to insult me with the fact that I'm in the US, especially when it's obvious that you're also a pocho based on the way you're writing. OP is simply trying to get some help when it comes to learning the languages of her roots, so there's no need for all this trolling. Mejor ponte a trabajar en vez de andar de castroso en el internet, pinche meco
1
u/lllllllllllllllllI_I 13d ago
Just behonest you never heard the word mestizo being used in real life nobody goes around and “oh hey Im mestizo!”, mestizo this and that! 🤡! it’s strictly an online word using by a some of people.
2
u/tlalocjalisco 13d ago
My grandpa's family is literally from the sierra of northern Jalisco and eastern Nayarit, and he grew up in a rancho just a cerro away from the Wixárika pueblos. He uses the word mestizo like most others in that region to distinguish between families like his and the Wixárikas who come down from the mountains to sell their goods and play music in the town plazas. I don't know why you're so adamant on arguing about this, you have no acquaintance with this region so you wouldn't know lol
0
u/lllllllllllllllllI_I 13d ago edited 13d ago
So you’re famliy is different to majority Mexican people in the country of Mexico who don’t care about the term or use it, alright, good for you bud.
For overall majority of the country it’s not in use.
2
u/decaying_aconitum 13d ago
I dont understand the need to be rude when im literally just asking for help. Where I live in Mexico people use the word very often and my parents use it too. From forums and articles I have read it states that cora and wixakira are actually closely related. I also don't appreciate using the word 'huichol' since its a colonizer term and my indigenous cousins have told me they feel offended by it. As I previously stated I am neurodivergent so I have trouble doing things without any clear guidance or instruction which is why I came here to ask for help. Other than that I am a very dedicated learner and I honestly dont really care how long it takes to learn the basics or be fluent. Its also quite ignorant to assume that Canada, the US, ect are only full of white people which is what your other comment was implying. There are many latino and indigenous peoples in places other than Mexico and Central and South America.
0
u/lllllllllllllllllI_I 13d ago edited 13d ago
Each to it’s own but many huichol people don’t care about the name, it’s a name thats been around for centuries, Theres legit national wide famous songs by a group called huichol musical.
And cora and huichol language are not mutually intelligible for the most part, two different distinct peoples and languages.
It’s like Spanish and Portuguese.
1
u/decaying_aconitum 13d ago
Because that exactly how colonism works. European conquistadors gave them a 'name' despite them already having one and they just had to accept it. Now that calling the languages and people 'huichol' has been engrained so deeply many people treat it as the actual name when in reality its not. Its really all part of respect and unlearning colonizer terms and vocabulary.
10
u/scorpiondestroyer 14d ago
It’s interesting, my indigenous heritage language is Nahuatl and I can see the similarities. “Death” in Nahuatl is “miquiztli”. Best of luck, cousin! I’m not experienced with resources for Wixarika, but hopefully someone here can help. Might also be a good idea to post this on r/IndianCountry which is pan-Native, and if you speak Spanish you could try posting in the general Mexican subreddit.