Indigenous Languages, Politics, and Authority in Latin America

"This volume will undoubtedly be an outstanding contribution to the historical and cultural study of indigenous languages in Latin America. Ambitious in theoretical scope but rigorous and rich in detail, most chapters address issues that have not been properly treated in the literature before and will fill gaps in our knowledge of social history of indigenous languages, especially in regard to writing." —Sergio Romero, University of Texas at Austin

"A formidable work of interdisciplinary scholarship, this collection of essays showcases some of the most groundbreaking research currently conducted by linguists, historians, and anthropologists on five different indigenous languages of Latin America still widely spoken today. Spanning from the sixteenth century to the present and from Mexico to Paraguay, passing by the Andes, the essays are a must-read for scholars of Latin America and for anyone concerned with the role played by language in the workings of power, domination, and cultural colonization. I also recommend it to policymakers." —Cecilia Méndez, University of California, Santa Barbara

"This rich collection presents eight engaging studies of indigenous languages across the Americas, their complex histories and important presence today. Alan Durston and Bruce Mannheim not only have assembled a fine set of essays but also provide a valuable introduction to the study of indigenous languages past and present, a state of the field (or fields) critique that deserves a broad readership." —Charles Walker, MacArthur Foundation Endowed Chair in International Human Rights, University of California, Davis