aztecan
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Definition
Noun: 1. The Uto-Aztecan language spoken by the Aztec people: This term refers specifically to the Nahuatl language, which was the language of the Aztec Empire and is still spoken by over a million people in Mexico today. It is a member of the Uto-Aztecan language family.
Usage Notes
- Aztecan is a linguistic term. It is used in academic contexts, such as anthropology, linguistics, and history, to refer to the language of the Aztecs.
- In modern usage, the language is more commonly and specifically called Nahuatl. "Aztecan" can be considered a more historical or classificatory term.
- It is a proper noun and is typically capitalized.
Examples
- Academic Context:
- Scholars study Aztecan to understand the codices and poetry of the pre-Columbian civilization.
- The grammar of Aztecan is complex and agglutinative.
- Historical/Linguistic Classification:
- Nahuatl, also known as Aztecan, is the most widely spoken indigenous language in Mexico.
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used as a noun to name the language. It is not commonly used as an adjective, though it can appear in compound academic terms.
- "Aztecan languages": Sometimes used to refer to the Nahuan or Aztecan branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family, which includes Nahuatl and its closest relatives like Pipil.
Variants and Related Words
- Nahuatl (n): The more common and specific name for the Aztec language and its modern descendants.
- Uto-Aztecan (adj/n): Referring to the large language family of North and Central America that includes languages like Shoshone, Comanche, Hopi, and Nahuatl (Aztecan).
Synonyms
- Nahuatl
- Mexican (archaic, historical term)
Different Meanings
- Aztecan has one primary meaning: the language of the Aztecs (Nahuatl). It is not used to describe Aztec culture, art, or people in general; the adjective for those concepts is Aztec.
Noun
- the Uto-Aztecan language spoken by the Aztec