LLILAS New Faculty Series: "A Pure Language for a Pure Soul: Linguistic Purism and Doctrinal Language in Indigenous Guatemala"

Sergio Romero, Department of Spanish and Portuguese

Christian churches in Guatemala have had conflicting stances regarding the manner in which doctrinal texts in indigenous languages should be used for proselytism and indoctrination. Focusing on the poetics of pastoral genres in K'iche', Qieqchi', and Pipil, this presentation will explore the ideologies and strategies used by religious authors from the 17th century to the present. The degree to which linguistic purism informs pastoral texts will be shown to be a diagnostic of alternative, opposing embodiments of Christianity in indegenous societies.

For more information, contact Paloma Diaz.