Talk:Maya peoples

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[edit] Proposed name change

I propose that this article's title be changed from Maya people to Maya peoples. Given that many different peoples, communities and languages come under the 'umbrella' term, "Maya", I think it would be more appropriate to reflect this diversity in the title, by using the plural (by parallel, we have Mayan languages, for example). Otherwise, I think we are implying a greater degree of homogeneity for the Maya than actually exists. Anyone object if it is changed? Regards, --cjllw | TALK 03:48, 15 December 2005 (UTC)

I have no strong opinion on this; either title seems reasonable to me. Looking at other articles of diverse people/s, I see such examples as "Italian people", while "Russian people" redirects to Russians, so we don't seem to have any particular convention about using singular or plural forms in such cases. I will say that if you feel strongly enough to move the article, you should take care of changing the links to it. Cheers, -- Infrogmation 15:14, 15 December 2005 (UTC)

ok, thanks Infrogmation. IMO it would be clearer to have this at Maya peoples, and will be happy also to take on the responsibility of amending the links- there don't seem to be more than about a hundred, anyway. I'll effect the change in the next day or two, if there are no other objections. Regards, --cjllw | TALK 00:35, 16 December 2005 (UTC)

Is there any way that someone can clarify how the name "Maya" to refer to these peoples came into being?

It is not known exactly how the name came into being, but curiously enough "Maya" is a word that appears fairly commonly certain Indian (i.e. Hindu) languages and also in Basque. A possible ancient connection! Also worth exploring, the cruxgammata, aka swastika connection.

Maya is a word made of two syllables with the very common vowel 'a'. As with the cruxgammata, the term is so simple that it could easily have arisen independently is several parts of the world. Chiss Boy 16:24, 21 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Mestizo identification

I removed the following statement,

"Especially in the western areas, even those of mostly or all Maya descent who speak Maya at home often identify themselves as "Mestizo", showing a degree of assimilation and identification with mainstream Mexican culture."

which it seems to me to give a misleading emphasis re the degree of 'assimilation/identification' with Mexican norms. Particularly in Q.Roo there are still a number of Maya communities who seek to maintain an autonomous attitude and identity, insofar as they are able. The statement should probably be turned around to emphasise that nearly a century after the formal conclusion of the Caste War, some independent-minded communities persist.--cjllw ʘ TALK 04:48, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

I believe I put that bit in some years ago. Sorry I don't recall the exact source; it was discussed at a presentation at Tulane. Yes, specifically in the western parts of Yucatan and Campeche (not the East, QR) many people who speak Maya and to outside observers look Maya were found in census surveys to commonly refer to themselves as "Mestizo". This was part of a contrast between the Maya of eastern and western Yucatan. I'll keep my eye out for the source or see if I run into someone who recalls it. Cheers, -- Infrogmation 14:29, 2 September 2007 (UTC)

Hi Infrogmation, thx for the clarification. I confess I overlooked the geographical qualification in the sentence when I read it, which makes a bit of difference in how it's read. Naturally there are many 'well-integrated' Maya communities and individuals, but it would be useful to find sources that can offer some quantification of this, such as thru census-type data as you say.--cjllw ʘ TALK 00:33, 3 September 2007 (UTC)