The Mayan and Nahua contribution to Cuban Spanish

Abstract

The present study aims to demonstrate that the presence of nahuismos in Cuban Spanish —which predominate over the scarce existing mayismos— is due to the historical and cultural relations between Mexico and Cuba, and not to the massive entrance of indigenous slaves into the island, most of which were Yucatec Mayans. Although nowadays numerous Cubans descend from these immigrants, the language legacy of indigenous Mexico does not constitute an important¿ feature of the Cuban variety of Spanish. In order to carry out this research it was necessary to analyze documents dating 1510 to 1860, some lexicographic works as well as specialized bibliography on the relations between both countries.