Top of page

Book/Printed Material A Guiding Light to the Indians. Lucerna yndyca

[ Volume 1 ]

More Resources

[ Volume 2 ]
[ Volume 3 ]

About this Item

Title

  • A Guiding Light to the Indians.

Other Title

  • Lucerna yndyca

Summary

  • Lucerna yndyca (A guiding light to the Indians) is a manuscript dating from 1715--22 containing a Castilian--Quechua dictionary and selections of the Gospels translated from Latin into Quechua, the predominant Andean language at the time of the Spanish conquest. The text is annotated with comments by the author, Esteban Sancho de Melgar y Santa Cruz. Melgar, a late-17th century academic, is known for his work Arte de la Lengua General de Inga Llamada Qquechhua (The art of the general language called Quechua) published in Lima in 1691. This manuscript, which was never published and is now preserved in the National Library of Colombia, is an important document that shows the linguistic means used to advance evangelization in Quechua. The manuscript is dedicated to Antonio de Soloaga, archbishop of Lima in the early 18th century. The work contains a preface describing the vocabulary needed to preach and to listen to penitents in confession. The dictionary follows, with an index of the Gospels. Also included are spelling and pronunciation rules for Quechua (referred to as Yndyca or Inca). Melgar used Diego González Holguín's 1608 dictionary as a basis for his own work, but revised its organization and added his own orthographic conventions.

Names

  • Melgar, Esteban Sancho de Author.

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], [1715 to 1722]

Headings

  • -  Colombia
  • -  Peru
  • -  1715 to 1722
  • -  Bible. New Testament
  • -  Catholic Church--Missions
  • -  Grammar
  • -  Indians of South America
  • -  Indigenous peoples
  • -  Missionaries
  • -  Quechua language

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 494 pages ; 31 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: National Library of Colombia.
  • -  Content in Quechua 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

  • 2021667802

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:

Melgar, Esteban Sancho De Author. A Guiding Light to the Indians. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, to 1722, 1715] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667802/.

APA citation style:

Melgar, E. S. D. A. (1715) A Guiding Light to the Indians. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, to 1722] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667802/.

MLA citation style:

Melgar, Esteban Sancho De Author. A Guiding Light to the Indians. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, to 1722, 1715] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021667802/>.