Abstract

SANCHEZ, Adriana Álvarez. The Chair of Native Languages at the Universidad del Reino de Guatemala, XVII-XIX Centuries. Estud. cult. maya [online]. 2015, vol.46, pp.119-139. ISSN 0185-2574.

One of the characteristics of the before the Conquest American population was linguistic diversity. When the Spanish Crown had finished this process, the sovereign and his counselors set the way they should evangelize the Indians and extend Christianity. Among the actions to accomplish this goal was the creation of university chairs where aspiring priests could learn, at least in theory, general languages. In the Real Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (founded 1676) there were two languages chairs, one of Pipil and other Cakchiquel: the first one only was read during the early years, and although the second would survive until the nineteenth century, the lack of students was constant. That stay was associated not with a philological and evangelical interest, but with their professors pursuing his administrative career in the clergy.

Keywords : History; Guatemala; University; languages; chairs.

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