Talk:Sierra Madre Occidental

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[edit] Question about Tarahumara language group

Isn't Tarahumara, which in its own tongue IIRC is called Purepechua, not of the same family as Uto-Aztecan languages? Or am I confusing the Tarahumara with someone else? (if the Tarahumara are those runners in the Copper Canyon area, then I'm wrong). But anyway, Purepechua, whatever its name in Spanish is (and it does have a different name) I'm pretty sure isn't Uto-Aztecan; it's distinct and their culture remained/remains distinct. Michoacan area, including Patzcuaro but the ancient capital is a place called Tzintzuntzan, on the main highway (such as it is) into Patzcuaro; ancient pyramid-altars (no blood, just fire with these folks) and a busy trade in carve wooden furniture (nice stuff, cheap, too). Purepechua is known for being tonal and in that aspect resembling (but not being related to) Sino-Thai languages; IIRC it's the only Amerind language north of Panama that's tonal like that. I know it sounds like I'm answering my own question but my point in fielding this here is to see if anyone else has heard of this, or might even have the specifics on it.Skookum1 05:58, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Could you be thinking of the isolate language Purepecha (also called Tarascan)? Tom Radulovich 06:09, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Yes, that's the one thank you; it's just that I thought that language, whatever it was, should be added to the list of languages of the Sierra Madre Occidental, since they're not Uto-Aztecan? . . . . I guess once you've read this and either put the Purepecha (sp.) into the list, or let me know I should/can, you can delete all of the above if you want.Skookum1 09:10, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Purepecha is spoken in Michoacan, which is well south of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Tom Radulovich 16:22, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Well, what the hell is the range between Patzcuaro and Playa Azul, then? I'd assumed that was the Sierra Madre Occidental. 'Cause it sure as hell is a mountain range (I've driven through it and along its Pacific flank), as is most of southern Michoacan.; same mountains than run between Morelos and Guerrero, or rather through Guerrero. What are they then?Skookum1 19:30, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

Michoacan lies between the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt (Eje Volcanico Transversal) to the north and the Sierra Madre del Sur to the south. Tom Radulovich 03:43, 14 November 2005 (UTC)