A Mosaic of Languages: The Interpreters of the Audiencia of Mexico in the Sixteenth-Century

In Laberintos de justicia Víctor Gayol analyzed the minor offices that enable the Audiencia of Mexico to administer justice in the territories under its jurisdiction. Nevertheless, he did not pay attention to an office that played a crucial role in the colonial courts: the interpreters of indigenous...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Cunill, Caroline
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:México
Institución:EL COLEGIO DE MÉXICO
Repositorio:Historia Mexicana
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:oai.historiamexicana.colmex.mx:article/3637
Acceso en línea:https://historiamexicana.colmex.mx/index.php/RHM/article/view/3637
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Mexico
justice administration
translation
nahuatl
16th Century
México
administración de justicia
traducción
náhuatl
siglo XVI
Descripción
Sumario:In Laberintos de justicia Víctor Gayol analyzed the minor offices that enable the Audiencia of Mexico to administer justice in the territories under its jurisdiction. Nevertheless, he did not pay attention to an office that played a crucial role in the colonial courts: the interpreters of indigenous languages. How many native languages were spoken in the Audiencia of Mexico? Were the interpreters Indians, Spaniards, or Mestizos? How did they develop their linguistic skills? This study identifies the interpreters who served the court of Mexico during the sixteenth Century in order to provide a chronology of the occupation of the office, as well as an analysis of the social and ethnic profile of its holders. This reflection highlights the process by which the institutions of the Spanish Empire sought to adjust themselves to the multilingual reality of America.