Linguistics?

I believe most agree that Camilla Townsend's Malintzin's Choices would be shelved in the non-fiction section of a bookstore.  A more difficult decision, however, is where within the non-fiction section does one place Malintzin's Choices.  Among the history books seems an obvious choice, but under what heading?  Clearly, the text deals with a vast range of history and other non-fiction related topics.  I am confident that placing Malintzin's Choices alongside Spanish and Mexican history is appropriate.  In addition, Townsend's text fits nicely in any indigenous studies department.  I would also expect to find Malintzin's Choices in the biography section, as well as within the women's studies texts.  One could make the case for placing Malintzin's Choices within a law section.  Also, Townsend's work could be display with books concerning linguistics.

While the history of Spain or Mexico are obvious choices for Townsend's text, placing it on a shelf with linguistics books might seem unusual.  However, the book's main focus is Malintzin, who was a native interpreter.  Throughout the text Townsend explains, among other things, the unique skill set interpreters required.  Interpreters had to have the ability to not only translate accurately but understand and effectively communicate nuance as well.  We see in Malintzin an interpreter versed in all aspects of the Nahuatl language, including formal speech.  In addition, a review of Townsend's Acknowledgments section reveals that she had taken two courses in Nahuatl at Yale, and believed it was perhaps her language teachers who made her work possible (xi).  Clearly, Townsend's training in Nahuatl enhanced her work and helped create a clearer picture for her readers.  For example, she tells us that the altepetl is ruled over by the king, and is "a city state, or better yet, a small ethnic state" (13).  Townsend goes on to tell us that the word "[a]ltepetl literally means "water-mountain" in the Nahuatl language" (13).  Moreover, Townsend also includes in the Appendix, Chalcacihuacuicatl:  "Chalca Woman's Song," which is a metaphoric song she believes would have had imagery familiar to Malintzin (215).  In the appendix, Townsend's skills as a linguist are displayed.  The Nahuatl song lyrics are included along with an English translation, as well as some interesting linguistic analysis.  It is this type of analysis that justifies placement of Malintzin's Choices among books about languages.

It should be noted that within our own library system the record for Malintzin's Choices appears with four different "subject" terms, including Marina, ca. 1505 ca. 1530, Indians of Mexico-First Contact with Europe, Indian Women-Mexico-Biography, and Mexico-History-Conquest, 1519-1540.  It is unclear how these "subject" categories are determined, but clearly the text offers a range of different searchable subjects.  Also, a review of Barnes and Noble reveals thirteen different categories related to Malintzin's Choices.  Interestingly, biography and linguistics were not among the Barnes and Noble categories for Townsend's work.