“Bad Interpreters and Scheming Tongues”: Nahuatl and Chiapanec in a Lawsuit over Cacicazgos and Tribute in Chiapan, 1547

Abstract This article delves into the role of local languages during early conflicts over the cacicazgos in the village of Chiapan. It posits that the Spanish cabildo of Ciudad Real attempted to establish its authority by showcasing its knowledge of Nahuatl and the remarkable translation skills of its Indigenous interpreters. On occasion, the city council sought to undermine the interpretations made by the Indigenous supporters of the Dominican friars. Ultimately, the essay suggests that those Indigenous individuals who spoke both Chiapanec and Nahuatl had more opportunities for political communication. Their bilingualism enabled them to mediate conflicts between the encomenderos of their villages and the Dominican friars. Through their mediation, the Hispanic authorities and religious clergy considered these Indios to become caciques.