nahuatlato (Osu13r)

nahuatlato (Osu13r)
Iconography

Glyph or Iconographic Image Description: 

This painting from the Codex Osuna, folio 13 recto (or Image 28), shows an image of the interpreter of Nahuatl (nahuatlato) who worked for Doctor Vasco de Puga. We are including this example of iconography to provide for comparisons with hieroglyphs.

Standing, facing toward the viewer’s right, and shown in a three-quarters view (revealing European artistic influence), this Spaniard wears a black hat and cape. Two white speech scrolls emerge from this figure, emphasizing his role in speaking. One scroll curls upward, and one curls under. As the contextualizing image shows, the interpreter is being followed around by a younger Nahua topile (constable).

Description, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Added Analysis: 

When the word nahuatlato is possessed (with the prefix i- or -in), the word ends with -cauh, as shown in the gloss. If nahuatlato is plural, it is nahuatlatoque (or, with the glottal stop, nahuatlatoqueh).

Added Analysis, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Gloss Image: 
Source Manuscript: 
Osuna, Codex (Osu)
Date of Manuscript: 

1551–1565

Creator's Location (and place coverage): 

Mexico City

Syntax: 
noun(s)
Cultural Content & Iconography: 
Aging (People, Animals, Things)
Gender (male)
Occupations
Politics, Power, Governance
Scrolls (Speech, Song, etc.)
Speech, Speaking, Oral Tradition
Textiles, Clothing, Hats, Regalia
Cultural Content, Credit: 

Jeff Haskett-Wood

Colors: 
black
red
tan
white/neutral
Shapes and Perspectives: 
facing right
3/4 view
volute(s)
Other Cultural Influences: 
Spanish/European
Keywords: 

nahuatlatos, intérpretes, nahuatl, español, topiles, lenguaje, traducir, interpretar, volutas, oficios

Glyph or Iconographic Image: 
Relevant Nahuatl Dictionary Word(s): 

nahuatlato, interpreter, https://nahuatl.wired-humanities.org/content/nahuatlato

Glyph/Icon Name, Spanish Translation: 

nahuatlato, intérprete

Spanish Translation, Credit: 

Stephanie Wood

Image Source: 

Library of Congress Online Catalog and the World Digital Library, Osuna Codex, or Painting of the Governor, Mayors, and Rulers of Mexico (Pintura del Gobernador, Alcaldes y Regidores de México), https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcwdl.wdl_07324/. The original is located in the Biblioteca Nacional de España.

Image Source, Rights: 

"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." But please cite the Biblioteca Nacional de España and this Visual Lexicon of Aztec Hieroglyphs if you use any of these images here or refer to the content on this page, providing the URL.

Historical Contextualizing Image: