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

1. the Uto-Aztecan language spoken by the Aztec