Cualli motlayohuan, Ma cualli tlaneci ...

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   Hermes says I'm not a specialist for old Mexican history, but I spent four days in the Anthropologic Museum in Mexico City and had a philosophy professor there, who lived with Nahuatl tribes a few years - he was missionary before. Nahuatl is not only a language but also a tribe - and I guess, it was spoken of the tribe before the aztecs came to build their imperium. My prof said that the aztecs just adopted the language of this tribe to make it the commercial language of their empire - there were many dozen laguages spoken in the Aztec empire. I compare it always to the Roman empire, just that the aztecs were a little bit more bloodthirsty regarding their religion. They had less culture compared to the Romans AND to other tribes and cultures of that time in Mexico - if you compare it with the Mayas, who had a written language since many hundred years before. The Mayas introduced the '0' to their number system even before "we", the so called western cultures did, which was represented at that time through the Roman empire (around 0) and later at the zenith of Maya culture (around 600/700 d.C.) through the Arabs, who were the mathematically most versed people at that time - Central Europe was a intellectual wasteland compared to them during the gloomy times of early medieval. But - to come back to the topic - the Aztecs had nothing of this. They didn't even have a number system, what you can see on their depictions of big victories - what means: many enemies killed. That it were many, they only could demonstrate through painting many small enemies, compared to few big Aztecs. There are some very funny artefacts, where you can see this in this museum. So here, the comparison fails: The Romans brought culture to Central Europe, their own language. The oldest town in my federal state (and my birth town - can I be proud of that?) is of Roman origin. They introduced viniculture to my ancestors - maybe we wouldn't produce vine here nowadays without them. The only advantage the aztecs had: they were fucking good warriors. But culturally they robbed a lot from the subjugated tribes. And if they wouldn't have been so bloodthirsty , which caused them many inner enemies in the empire, the Spanyards would have had a fucking bad time in their war against them. Well, the fact, that they thought, that the Spanyards would be gods, was also a little disadvantage for the Aztecs, I guess ;). I was and I am still wondering, why so many Mexicans regard the Aztecs as their ancestors, what becomes even evident in their name - Mexicas is another word for Aztecs. I would prefer to be a descendant of the Mayas or of another smaller, but more highly developed tribe ;). But the Maya descendants are also proud of their origin. Somewhen in the 19. century, they wanted to declare independance from Mexico, but the rebellion of the Maya descendants was defeated by the cental government. Somehow I like the idea of an own Maya-land consisting of South-Mexico, including Yucatan, and North Guatemala. But that won't happen anymore. But still old people speak Maya dialects down there, and I hope they will maintain their heritage. I was once talking to a old women, who teached me a few Maya words, that I already forgot - shame on me. But she was so proud of and happy with their little acre and I guess also of their origin. That was totally sweet and touched me a lot. Me being a Germanic descendant of what is a industrialized collection of "tribes" nowadays, that just had stopped being nomads to the time when her ancestors build some of the biggest towns worldwide - Tikal had around 70.000 inhabitants at 700 d.C. And being this guy I'm talking in a language that has its roots in latin, and therefore in the Roman empire, to an old women, whose culture was nearly destroyed by the Spanyards - for my culture Roman influence was more a kind of advantage. So spoken figuratively we both were talking in the enemies language and she was teaching me in that enemies language some of the remainging words of her ancient culture - German didn't even exist to that time. If that's not awsome, I don't know, what is. Now, why did I write all that? Well, I guess, I just like to "talk" about ancient history with all their heavy implications to the present.

   Permalink posted 06/16/2007
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   Girlcrawl says Perfect pairing; with a post entitled 'Cualli motlayohuan, Ma cualli tlaneci...', I simply had to drop over and hear what this was about. Must purchase the Peel Slowly And See boxed set as it is amazing - have 3 Velvet cds, and none contain the delightful After Hours. Great post, and really enjoyed reading added comment by Hermes.

   Permalink posted 06/16/2007
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   I am says @ Girl - Moe gets the spot light every so often. I think after hours is on their self title album. How about that Hermes? @Hermes - Didn't think anyone could way in so heavily. Thanks to both of you. I will get back to you about your comment at some later date.

   Permalink posted 06/16/2007
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   Rawkkiddoh says just wondering, how many languages do you speak? My wife is a translator and its a question that came to my brain

   Permalink posted 06/16/2007
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   I am says About 3 ish. Of course English, Pennsy Dutch, a smattering of German, not much Russian (just enough to get me to the bathroom and order dinner), Japanese here and there, thanks to my kids and soulrocket my Spanish has improved, and Latin (Catholic college). The Latin is my ace in the hole because so many languages use Latin as a root language you can guess and fumble your way through a conversation by listening for the derivative of the root. It also makes my learning new words a lot easier. As for the titles kiddo I just google good morning and good night in other languages. Same title everytime made fresh through a bit of smoke and mirrors. What languages does your wife know?

   Permalink posted 06/16/2007
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   Rawkkiddoh says My wife speaks English, French, Polish and of course Canadian. As funny as that sounds, I do consider Canadian a whole different language, know what I am talking aboot?

   Permalink posted 06/16/2007

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