Nahuatl, Western Durango

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A language of Mexico

ISO 639-3
azn
Alternate Names
Meshikan del occidente, Mexicanero del occidente, Nahuat del Occidente en Durango y Nayarit, Western Durango Aztec
Autonym
Meshikan de San Agustin Buenaventura y de Santa Cruz
User Population

900 (2011 SIL).

Location

Durango state: Mezquital municipality, Alacranes, Curachitos de Buenavista, San Agustin de Buenaventura, San Diego, Tepalcates, and Tepetates II (Berenjenas); Nayarit state: Acaponeta municipality, El Duraznito, La Laguna, Mesa de las Arpas, and Santa Cruz.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Uto-Aztecan, Southern Uto-Aztecan, Corachol-Aztecan, Core Nahua, Nahuatl
Dialects

None known. 85% intelligibility of Eastern Durango Nahuatl [azd], 76% of Michoacan Nahuatl [ncl].

Language Use

Vigorous. The Nayarit communities are more isolated and surrounded by larger language group; there are pockets of the region where the language has fallen into disuse. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 16% (Durango). Community-based literacy project. Bilingual teachers assessing sociolinguistic situation (2007 SIL). Literature. Radio. Videos. Bible portions: 2017.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Nahuatl, Western Durango
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.