[Aztlan] On-line laboratory for Nahua (Aztec) glyph decipherment

[Jerry Offner]

It is a bit surprising that no one has mentioned Marc Thouvenot's decades of work condensed into the highly useful program CEN at this link:

http://www.sup-infor.com/

Marc has thorughly studied the content, meaning and pronunciation of Nahua (Aztec) pictographs, with an emphasis on the Texcocan area.  He has designed and continously improved his programs for studying them and Nahuatl.  The program  CEN is free, large but easily downloaded and installed, bug-free and enjoyable to use.  Good quality photos of scarcely or poorly published codices are part of the download, as can be seen by examining the files and file structure after the download.    Most directions are in French, English and Spanish. (I should be able to help anyone with difficulties getting the file structure right on their computer in case they find the site's directions difficult).   (There is a lot more of interest to Mesoamericanists at this site).  

Marc's dissertation "Codex XOLOTL. Etude d'une des composantes de son écriture : les glyphes. Dictionnaire des éléments  constitutifs des glyphes"
can also be downloaded for those who prefer a more conventional presentation.   It is in French, but its task is so detailed and descriptive that it can be followed with minimal work with a good French dictionary (on-line or paper).

The only way to account for the general lack of knowledge regarding his work is that he has not produced a dead-tree coffee table work in whatever language.   Given the nature of the subject, his software approach is the current optimum method of presentation.

Marc Thouvenot's work is indispensable if you want to get serious about Nahua pictographic writing. At the same time, beginners can obtain attractive pictures and illustrations along with information that can be accessed in greater or lesser detail, as they require,  

Jerry Offner
ixtlil at earthlink.net