Colonization's Impacts in Languages: the Case of the Mayan Tongue

Colonization has always been a viewed as a two-sided historical reality. While socially speaking colonization is a major key towards the globalized society we enjoy today, other aspects of humanity wither under the shadows of it. Personally, I have been very engaged in the study of the Mayan tongue in southern Mexico, and above that since last year I have dedicated much time and effort elaborating my mini thesis Linguistic Changes under Cross-cultural Encounters in the Mayan Territory. Here I seize the chance briefly share a few of my views on the issue of language change under and after colonization.

  Having spent two months in Chiapas, Mexico, I discovered that the once extremely intricate web of Mayan tongues (which reached it peak in the 10th century) has been reduced to only 7 roots. Experts claim that the Spanish colonization was the major reason behind the sudden decline of these Central and South American indigineous tongues, including also the Aztec and Incan languages. Much of the culture seen in languages has been lost, and enigmas continue to trouble linguists and historians. In addition, it goes to say that the introduction of the Spanish language (a major Romance language with Latin structures) has caused significant changes in syntax in the Mayan language. Many terms in the Southern Mayan area are directly acquired from Spanish, and some conjecture that this phenomenom has led to a parcial decease of the Mayan pride. Furthermore, the extension of Spanish has led to an unthinkable change in the Mayan language's grammar structure. Bilingualism in the entire society in the 18th century evidently left its roots in the Mayan tongues, for all Mayan tongues now conform to the Spanish language's rule of "subject, verb, object" instead of maintaining its original "object, subject, verb"rule. 

  Of course, the above mentioned are merely objective, linguistics approaches towards viewing how deeply colonization influenced the Latin American society; further influences, such as the lost of cultural identity, are more complex and sensitive issues that rise behind these changes. Nonetheless, in our day the entire Latin American society speaks Spanish as an official or secondary tongue, and the relationship between Spanish and South America has evolved in a healthy manner. Things have changed, and people oblige themselves to view language change resulted from colonization with a positive mindset.

Languages as Religions

                                                                         Languages as Religions    2014.3.27

Most of the time, I like to refer to myself as a “devout language major”. To most people, this concept may not seem logical at all—how do you address a student as a “devout” student? Isn’t the word “devout” practiced mostly in religion? As weird as the notion may appear, for me, I do have a strong and personal sense towards languages and what they represent in the course of personal improvement as well as human identity.

        From the perspective of an individual, I trust that languages work with a soul embedded by the people who speak it. Languages have life, and are the passive inspiration for a lot of people. All European tongues have a sense of vitality and fresh character that sustain through its culture; the Spaniards have a down-to-earth, rough beauty in their pronunciations while the Italians bear a lively kind of sexiness in their interpretation of the spoken Italian language. On a personal level, I trust that the Spanish language, with its enlightening spirit, has transformed me throughout the years. Spanish has taught me to change myself into a less pessimistic girl, and to feel delighted-- grateful for all the smallest good things in life. As absurd as it may sound, Spanish is a source of enlightenment for me, and throughout the years I have not only mastered it but also I have strived to have its beauty known and understood by more Taiwanese.

        In addition, languages reach out to an entire race and record various details of a race’s essence. Many terms of culture, history, religion, and the arts are registered, created, and invented under language systems, and from the change of languages we witness how humans evolve throughout the centuries. Even under a same spoken language where people of distinct countries can understand each other, languages record different meaning for each of these nations, and translate the spirit of those nations in a different manner, using the same lexicon. Languages are the best chameleons in the world, forever changing, but forever being the most basic asset of human development. I trust that languages have the ultimate power for transforming this world, just like a religion, and as a language-aficionado and a fighter for language rights, I proudly address myself as a “devout language major”.

       

History, the Two-Faced Monster

        The tactics of humanitarian studies is something interesting, yet to be researched to its fullest. Out of all the fields of humanities, the course of history has proven to be yet the biggest challenge. All details of historical studies- of historical figures, historical events- cannot be perceived in solely one direction, but should be touched upon through several dimensions. It is exactly this variety of opinions and perspectives that structures the excitement of history studies.

        To illustrate, take 17^th century India as a bright example. In the early 1600s, the great Mughal era devoted a great percentage of its affluence to the construction of the Taj Majal, the tomb of Jahan Jir and his beloved wife. Now, in our era Taj Majal may be considered one of the seven wonders of the world, and its majectic beauty, unparelell, has attracted a great many visitors from across the globe to witness the acme of Indian ancient civilization. As stunning and unmatched as the Taj Mahal may be, history reveals two different sides of the story, and sadly most people have been only beguiled by the beautiful side of it. In fact, though the Taj Mahal continues to bring visitors and create life for India’s tourism, few people know the actual agony behind the construction of this wonderous palace. 20,000 innocent people were exploited and tortured throughout the process, and under the king Jahan Jir’s orders no one was free from affliction. The kingdom ran out of funds, with no resources left because of the Taj Mahal. In addition, with the king’s decision to lock his father up in a tower, the great powers of India’s most flourished era started to decline. The great architects of Taj Mahal had their arms chopped off after twenty years of sweat and efforts, ending up as the king’s greatest contributors- and slaves. India went from affluent, to the state where it is today, with half a billion people starving and struggling in poverty. India’s most breath-taking palace may have left behind a great anthropological wonder, but the nation, four hundred years later, continues to live in the shades of avarice. This is the two-sided reality that almost every part of history conveys.

 

Laments on the Decline of Literary Passion

        Human evolution is long, profound, and undeniably filled with more vicissitudes than we can handle. The same goes to the evolution of human knowledge and our understanding of the world. Just fixing our eyes in Europe we see an abysmal change of human perspectives in each era. From the dark middle ages to the surge of Latin’s importance in the Renaissance; from the enlightenment of the French evolution to the hybrid- almost chaotic- perspectives of knowledge that we have today, we see that everything, and everything we feel about the academics is changing little by little. While some may sense energy in this change of thought, I take the issue otherwise, and as a language major, I process this change through a more pessimistic overview.

        Putting aside the flourishing field of science, the humanities are declining in almost every way imaginable. In the 14^th century, the Renaissance and the enlightenment of Latin, brought about excitement and expanded the human potential in most areas of development. Literature and art were thought to be the propellers of prosperity, and people believed that without culture, the society stayed soulless, dead, meaningless… Throughout the following five hundred years, society continued to passionate for the literary arts, but in a rate less impressive than the Renaissance. Until today, in the 21^st century, I trust there is little to expect from the literary world- not because the quality of contemporary literature is unacceptable, but because the society in general negates the value literature without getting to comprehend its ultimate value. Even in my very own department, where literature seems to be the key of its survival, we see no spike of interest for literature and art among students of European Philology. People scorn, despise the literary arts, and view language learning as merely a manner of expediting international trade and commerce. This shallow side of the society has yet to be improved before the soul of our humanites sinks forever.

A Recap of My College Years: Dedication to Language

  As a senior in the last year of university, sometimes I can't help but keep recapping on the details of how exponentially my college years transformed through the past four years. Of course, this journey, like any other, has been filled with laughter as well as tears of frustration and regret; however as I look back I discover how crucially right the biggest mistake of my life had been.

  My freshman year started up in one of the most competitive medical universities in Taiwan. As a student in medical school, I did not live the glory that the average medical student would have. I was forced into this major, and instead of flourishing, I kept sinking- till a point where I would not save myself anymore. To me, being a doctor- or even aspiring to be one- is not equivalent to being a hero in this universe. Quite the contrary, I thought firmly that doctors were merely people who sought money out of those who us in the more devastating periods of our lives. 

  And with that concept in mind, and against all sorts of waves of objection, I dropped out of medical school and fought a spot for myself in National Chengchi University. I gave up what people thought of as a glorious career to pursue and went for what I loved most, ironically a major that most people considered useless-Hispanic Philology. My new world in NCCU has guided me through whatever darkness I had previously been through, and finally, by devoting myself to what I enjoy most, I've come to see my own potentials and lift myself out of the previous madness. Spanish language may not lead me to a very lucrative career nor bring me tons of gold, but it has definitely enriched my soul to the utmost and revived my love and belief of all the beautiful things in life.