The need for an assessment tool to use for the identification of indigenous oral language speakers among immigrant populations is growing in the US / Mexico border region, and we anticipate that it will continue apace. The lack of a formal instrument to assess indigenous languages hinders communication and often then places them in disadvantageous and even discriminatory scenarios in terms of immigration law, policy, and practice.
Obviously - word order, lexical and other differences in morpho-syntax will be apparent, but even seeing an example of a written instrument (with English/Spanish/or French translation would be helpful) as we consider constructing assessments for specific and most frequent languages. A brief but accurate one is preferred. Wado!
I would be very interested in participating in developing such tools for Nahuatl varieties. They do not to my knowledge exist in any systematic way.
I think for Mayan languages someone to ask might be John Haviland at UCSD, who is a certified interpreter of Tzotzil Maya and has worked in courts.
Magnus,
Thank you for your suggestion, I have written to him to inquire.i am going to contact some Mexican language specialists and linguists and will pose the question to them.
Nahuatl may prove more popular in that regard. If they respond, I will let you know.
Hello, Blake,
I live in Mexico and have close contact with some specialists in Mayan languages. The experts are Lourdes de León and Barbara Pfeiler. To my knowledge, there are no available tools for assessing these populations, and usually this is an issue.
Best, Alejandra.
Alejandra,
Thank you for your answer, I'd be very interested in contacting them if you can share their contacts with me. My email address is below. A related website and policy analysis is attached as well. Separately, I 'd like to know more about your work with children and language. There is a specific reason related to immigrant children.
Blake Gentry : [email protected]
www.emigrantrights.org
http://www.emigrantrights.org
Technical Report Exclusion of Indigenous Language Speaking Immigrants in the ...
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