1976/06/01 by Terrence Kaufman · 9 citations
Arts and Humanities · #Spanish Linguistics and Language Studies #Latin American history and culture #Historical Linguistics and Language Studies #Sketch #Linguistics #Archaeology #History #Archaeological evidence #Anthropology #Geography #Sociology #Philosophy #Computer science
paper · doi:10.1080/00438243.1976.9979655
openalex publication_date 1976/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
A sketch of the linguistic, geographic and temporal diversification of the Mayan language‐family is offered, and correlations with archaeological discoveries are suggested in many cases. Linguistic contacts of Mayan with non‐Mayan languages and cultures are discussed, and a number of archaeological‐linguistic correlations are suggested. Reference is made to some common linguistic misconceptions often voiced by Meso‐American archaeologists. Some of the more important claims (oversimplified) made here are that Classic Mayans were Cholans, Olmecs and Izapans were Mixe‐Zoqueans, and that there were no Nahuas in Meso‐America before the fall of Teotihuacán.