Abstract

VALLE, Perla. Glifos de cargos, títulos y oficios en códices nahuas del siglo XVI. Desacatos [online]. 2006, n.22, pp.109-118. ISSN 2448-5144.

After 1521, Nahua writing suffered alterations as a direct consequence of the social changes and the Spanish language influence.These changes were solved in the codices by adapting glyphs with phonetic and symbolical values in order to transcribe new words, different sounds or to represent the unknown meanings of the conquerors' language. However, the complexity of proper nouns and names of persons and places makes their transcription and reading very difficult. In his studies about Nahua writing, Doctor Joaquín Galarza, proposed a methodology based on the analysis of the phonic and symbolic elements of the glyphs, that allows their transcription and reading.The glyphs used to indicate social positions, titles and occupations are an example of the diversity of solutions painted in codices that can become comprehensible when using the correct methodology.

Keywords : codices; writing; glyphs; transcription; reading.