Languages of Mexico

Languages of Mexico
Sign at Chichén Itzá in Spanish, Yucatec Maya and English
OfficialNone
NationalSpanish
IndigenousNahuatl, Yucatec Maya, Zapotec, Mixtec, Mayo, Yaqui, Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Chol, Totonac, Purépecha, Otomi, Mazahua, Mazatec, Chinantec, Mixe, Zoque, Popoluca, Popoloca language, Me'phaa, Wixarika, Chontal, Huave, Pame, Teenek, Kickapoo, Kiliwa, Paipai, Cucapá, Amuzgo, Triqui, Lacandon Maya, Mam Maya, Jakaltek, Matlatzinca, Tepehua, Chichimeca Jonaz, Pima Bajo, Ngiwa, Ixcatec, Ayapanec, Huasteco etc.
RegionalEnglish, German, Greek, Italian, Arabic, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Russian
VernacularMexican Spanish
MinorityPlautdietsch, Chipilo Venetian dialect, Afro-Seminole Creole
SignedMexican Sign Language
Yucatan Sign Language
Plains Sign Talk
American Sign Language
Keyboard layout

The Constitution of Mexico does not declare an official language; however, Spanish is the de facto national language spoken by over 99% of the population[1] making it the largest Spanish speaking country in the world. Due to the cultural influence of the United States, American English is widely understood, especially in border states and tourist regions, with a hybridization of Spanglish spoken.[2][3] The government also recognizes 63 indigenous languages spoken in their communities out of respect, including Nahuatl, Mayan, Mixtec, etc.

The Mexican government uses solely Spanish for official and legislative purposes, but it has yet to declare it the national language mostly out of respect to the indigenous communities that still exist. Most indigenous languages are endangered, with some languages expected to become extinct within years or decades, and others simply having populations that grow slower than the national average. According to the Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples (CDI) and National Institute of Indigenous Languages (INALI), while 9% of the population identifies as belonging to an indigenous group, around 5-6% speak an indigenous language.

  1. ^ "Population 3 or over that does not speak Spanish by State". INEGI. 2016.
  2. ^ "Lengua oficial y lenguas nacionales en México - Detalle de la obra - Enciclopedia de la Literatura en México - FLM - CONACULTA".
  3. ^ "Spanish Language History". Today Translations. Archived from the original on 17 April 2005. Retrieved 1 October 2007.

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