La eficacia simbólica de la escritura en lenguas de tradición oral: Un acercamiento etnográfico al caso del ayuuk en Oaxaca

This paper reflects on the relationships between the speakers of an Amerindian language and writing, based on ethnographic research in the Mixe region of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is argued that, despite the lack of widespread social use of literate practices in indigenous languages, the writing of languages with oral tradition has a symbolic efficacy that influences linguistic attitudes and behaviours. Likewise, the ideologies and power relations that underlie the writing of historically unwritten languages are reproduced and transform the structuring of social space.