Rhetoric in the nahuatl world

Abstract

Rhetoric was of exceptional importance in the life of ancient Nahuas of Central Highlands of the Mexican territory. It is manifested in the specialized lexicon in this field in their original language, in the products preserved from this discursive practice and in its teaching as a discipline. If we consider this last aspect, we will be able to realize rhetoric was not only a practical instrument in civil, social, and religious life of the Aztec people, but also became a true discipline applied in the training of young nobles of the ruling elite. To show it, there are references to the teaching of this discipline in the Calmécac and, above all, the famous huehuetlahtolli are preserved, which can be considered as models for teaching of discourses from the family bosom until the death. This work studies the educational and formative nature of nahuatl rhetoric from the western perspective of rhetoric, in order to revalue these practices comparable in terms of their importance to the practices of the classical world of Greece and Rome, but which also show their own and novel elements that enrich that discipline. Some issues are raised regarding the authenticity and function of the huehuetlahtolli.