Heello! San Miguel! Grab your coffee (or vino) because we’ve got a story that hits closer to home than you think. Let’s chat about something that’s been quietly fading away in our beautiful town— the Otomí language.
Living legend Vicente Ramírez Crisanto, now 83 years young, is one of the last speakers of the Otomí language in the north of San Miguel de Allende. It all started when he learned the language from his elders around the tender age of ten, back when folks could easily strike up a conversation in Otomí without batting an eye. But as times changed, so did the number of speakers.
These days, Vicente can hardly find anyone to chat with in Otomí—even his own family, who speak Spanish instead. He remembers a time when children and adults alike would converse in Otomí like it was no big deal. “It’s almost disappearing now,” Vicente laments, “the new generation doesn’t have any interest in learning it.”
Take a trip down memory lane with Vicente, and you’ll find a treasure trove of vocabulary and stories just waiting to be shared. His passion for preserving this rich cultural legacy takes center stage, as he grieves the loss of a language that once flourished in the area.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Enter teachers Beatriz Rodríguez and Ángel Moreno, who are doing their best to keep the Otomí language alive. In a classroom perched in Peña Blanca, they’re sparking the flame of interest in the younger generation. “I see it as very important since everything is being lost,” Bety says. “Many kids aren’t interested, but some are learning the national anthem and other variations to incorporate words and vocabulary.”
What’s more, they’ve recruited Vicente as a sort of language consultant—bring on the cultural wisdom! The teachers are thrilled to have a native speaker to guide them, and Vicente, well, he’s happy to see someone caring about the roots of his language. “For us, it’s amazing to chat with him,” Beatriz shares. “He sees it’s disappearing and doesn’t understand why we care, but he’s leaving us his roots.”
So, while Vicente may be one of the last bearers of the Otomí flame, he’s not going down without a fight. Thanks to the dedication of passionate educators like Bety and Ángel, there’s still hope for this endangered language. In a world where culture and language can sometimes be quashed under modernization, it’s refreshing to see some good ol’ grassroots efforts in San Miguel.
That’s the scoop for today, folks! Let us know your thoughts on preserving our local cultures and languages—what do you think we can do to help? Until next time, stay groovy!
Leave a Reply