Top of page

Book/Printed Material The Art and Vocabulary of the Achagua Language. Arte y bocabulario de la lengua achagua

About this Item

Title

  • The Art and Vocabulary of the Achagua Language.

Other Title

  • Arte y bocabulario de la lengua achagua

Summary

  • Arte y bocabulario de la lengua achagua: Doctrina christiana, confessionario de uno y otro sexo e instrucción de cathecumenos (The art and vocabulary of the Achagua language: Christian doctrine, the confession of both sexes, and instruction in the catechism) attests to the linguistic effort undertaken by the Jesuit missionaries in the borderlands of present-day Colombia and Venezuela. As its long title explains, this small manuscript volume, written in beautiful calligraphy and now preserved in the National Library of Colombia, contains several items: a grammar of the Achagua language, an extensive vocabulary in which the Spanish equivalents are given for each Achagua word, instructions for confessors (with the translation of the interview to be given to new parishioners by the priest), and a catechism. The text stresses the importance of using the correct indigenous language, for it was only through this medium that it would be possible to Christianize the natives. The work was begun by Father Alonso de Neira, who died in 1703. It is uncertain whether it was simply transcribed by Father Juan Rivero, who arrived in the country in 1705, or further developed by him as he became expert in the language. Achagua is a language of the Maipurean Arawakan group traditionally spoken by the Achagua people of Venezuela and east-central Colombia.

Names

  • Neira, Alonso de Author.
  • Rivero, Juan, 1681-1736 Contributor.

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 1762.

Headings

  • -  Colombia
  • -  Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
  • -  1703 to 1705
  • -  Achagua language
  • -  Catholic Church--Missions
  • -  Grammar
  • -  Indians of South America
  • -  Indigenous peoples
  • -  Missionaries

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 255 pages.
  • -  Original resource at: National Library of Colombia.
  • -  Content in Achagua and Spanish.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021667801

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Neira, Alonso De Author, and Juan Rivero. The Art and Vocabulary of the Achagua Language. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, 1762] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667801/.

APA citation style:

Neira, A. D. A. & Rivero, J. (1762) The Art and Vocabulary of the Achagua Language. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667801/.

MLA citation style:

Neira, Alonso De Author, and Juan Rivero. The Art and Vocabulary of the Achagua Language. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, 1762] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021667801/>.