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Practice 10

Census data from 2000 is used in general, but some
contributors preferred using figu es taken from a
partial census by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística,
Geografía e Informática (INEGI, National Institute of
Statistics, Geography and Computer Science). Only
speakers five y ars of age or older are included in the
census figu es.

Here follow a few examples of statistics for all of
Mexico’s indigenous languages. In the last ten years,
the number of indigenous language speakers has not
greatly changed: the number of Pame speakershas
increased from 5,700 to 7,736; Huave from 136 to 206.
Others have decreased: for example, Mazahuan from
127,826 to 115,935; Chichimec from 1,582 to 1,362;
Mazatecan from 168,374 to 165,596; Matlatzinca from
1,452 to 651; and Ocuiltec from 755 to 405. Whether
there are considerable numbers of speakers or not,
unless children acquire those languages, they will
eventually die out.

Wrapping up, there are forty-six languages in Mexico
that seem to be vulnerable, thirty-five a e endangered,
thirty-three are seriously endangered and nineteen are
gravely endangered.

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