Expresiones p'urhépechas del canto

Abstract

One hundred thirty expressions related to singing in p'urhépecha are presented. Two outslanding features characterize these expressions: a) the richness of the language's derivation process, reflecled in the fact that all of the expressions are derived from the same root p¡ré through the use of various suffixes or combinations of suffixes; and b) the importance of the native language song in p'urhépecha culture, a practice presumably of great antiquity, that involves both men and women and is present in all p'urhépecha communities. The expressions are organized in classes according to areas of meaning, which are a function of their language and culture The most important division differentiates "personal" and "collective" modes of singing of these people.