José de Anchieta and the beginnings of the linguistic linguistic action of the missionaries in America

Abstract

The work begun by the evangelisers from the 16th century onwards in the Americas century in the Americas has had a major influence on the linguistic evolution of the linguistic evolution on this continent. Both The life and work of the Jesuit José de Anchieta are an extraordinary source of information on the source of information on the linguistic problems that arose during the linguistic problems that arose in the early days, as a result of the contact between the indigenous languages and the Spanish . and Portuguese spoken by the newcomers. The elaboration of grammars and vocabularies grammars and indigenous vocabularies begin in the mid-16th century and emerge the 16th century and emerged at distant points. José de Anchieta's grammar, dedicated to the Tupi language and composed for a practical a practical purpose: the rapid learning of the language by the missionaries. the language by the missionaries. But this activity was accompanied the literacy of the Indian children, which Anchieta and the other brothers carried out in Portuguese. the other brothers carried out in Portuguese, a language which in the Jesuit's writings Jesuit writings alternate with their mother tongue, Spanish. This shows us that language is used as an instrument of communication with universal aspirations. instrument of communication with universal aspirations, but it is never intended to impose one to the detriment of others, but rather to use the one most appropriate to the situation and the moment, seeking only to the situation and the moment, seeking only the best communication. The Anchieta's interest from the linguistic point of view is not therefore limited to his contribution to the elaboration of grammars of indigenous languages. grammars and indigenous languages, but shows how linguistic contact in the linguistic contact took place in America during the first years