Bible Translation into Nahuatl by Spanish Missionaries
What happened
Spanish Catholic missionaries undertook Nahuatl Bible translation completed around 1680, working with Nahuatl scholars in Mexico. Translation used Spanish orthography adapted for Nahuatl phonology, creating Nahuatl Christian biblical vocabulary. This missionary linguistics occurred during Spanish colonial period following 1521 Spanish conquest. Nahuatl Bible became foundation for Nahuatl Christian literary development and religious poetry among Nahuatl-speaking communities in central Mexico, continuing pre-Columbian Nahuatl literary traditions through Christian themes.
Literary impact
Nahuatl Bible translation established Nahuatl Christian literary vocabulary, enabling Nahuatl Christian poetry adapting traditional Nahuatl poetic forms (including huēi cuēitl poetry) for Christian themes. The translation influenced modern Nahuatl writers and religious poetry production. Nahuatl Bible became foundation for Christian Nahuatl literary tradition, preserving Nahuatl language and Aztec cultural identity through Christian literary expression despite Spanish colonial suppression of indigenous languages.
Source: Wikipedia