[Aztlan] why "the maya"

[David Hixson]

Hi all,
   
  This second email from Mr. Siegel (quoting Matthew Restall) is much appreciated.
   
  In Mr. Siegel's first email, there may have been some list members who were confused by the attached messages.  These conflated the debate surrounding the term "Yucatan" with the term "Maya".
   
  The widely printed (but largely unsubstantiated) story that the term "Yucatan" derives from a misunderstanding between the Maya and Spaniards should not be confused with the origin of the term Maya (which Restall summarizes well).
   
  Additionally, I would note that the modern Maya do not always self-identify as Maya (even in the region that speaks "Maya" such as Yucatan).  The concept of identity must be considered as a "telescope".  There are various levels of identity.
   
  To understand this issue, one could begin by examining the stark contrasts between traditional clothing of highland communities in Guatemala (and the associated linguistic differentiation that is much more common in the highlands than in the lowlands) to see that local community identity often trumps cultural or even linguistic identity.  Many individuals living in one community promise that they cannot understand the language of their neighboring town (even if this is likely an over-statement).
   
  "The Maya" were never a single empire, nor did they ever envision themselves as a single ethnic group before being placed in contrast to other ethnic groups.  In the modern world, many Maya peoples will now self-identify as Maya (many do not), but this is largely due to a more modern world-view, placing themselves in opposition to other larger ethnic groups (including those of European decent).
   
  To make an analogy with the modern socio-political world, I have often heard comments such as "no soy Mexicano, soy Yucateco".  While technically Yucatan is a part of Mexico, locals do not self-identify as Mexican.  Therefore our view of Yucatan - from outside of Yucatan - is different from those living within Yucatan.
   
  To be most respectful and accurate with regards to local preferences, it would be beneficial to discuss "Kiche",  "Mam", "Itza",  or "Maya" as four separate topics (despite all being part of the Mayan language family and having similar cultural backgrounds).  Note that even Victoria Bricker's dictionary was very carefully titled: "Dictionary of the Maya Language As Spoken in Hocaba, Yucatan" (in order to specify its focus within one town, rather than to over-generalize to all of Yucatec Maya).
   
  In reference to the most recent question about "Maya" vs. "Mayan", please remember that these have been translated into English.  When writing in English, it is certainly more accurate to say "the Mayan language family" and "the Mayas of Yucatan", rather than "the Maya language family" and "the Mayans of Yucatan".  However, when speaking in spanish (or even Maya), the term "Mayan" (with an "N") is not used.  This is an English term that brings it in line with other linguistic adjectives like "German" "Hungarian" "Yugoslavian" or "Russian".  Mayan, with an "N" should be used in English only with reference to language, not people, traits or culture.  However, as far as I know this is ONLY true in English -- the Maya do not use the term "Mayan" (unless speaking English), they use other modifiers to specify language vs. culture vs. object vs. person.
   
  Fellow listeros, please feel free to correct any aspect of this summary (we do have some expert liguists on this list that far outweigh my knowledge).
   
  -Dave

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