Genoveva T. Palmieri
Even the very first immigrants to settle this continent must have had to learn at least the basics of the languages spoken by the natives of the land. The process beginning with Christopher Columbus on his arrival was one of trying to communicate with the natives he found. In his original writings he spoke of their kindness upon his arrival and how they communicated through signals and gestures. Thus began a long historical process for the newly arrived in a strange land to impose their new language upon the conquered people. It stands to reason that they needed to have learned at least some basics of the language spoken in order for them to succeed. They needed to communicate, in order to understand their dealings and colonize their subjects. Often history tells us about natives who were "the translators" guides or collaborators. These individuals were key in the success or failure of many a trip, or a colonizer.
One of the most famous examples of this type of situation is the part played by "La Malinche" (or Dona Marina as she was called by Cortes and his army) in the conquest of Mexico and the Aztecs. It is very interesting that her story has become a very negative major story of a "Translator". Obviously, an extremely intelligent woman, who history tells us spoke more than one of the native languages in Mexico, she very quickly learns, Spanish the language of the newly arrived gods to the land. She becomes a major player in these historical events. Her language skills must have been exceptional. It would seem she was trying to help communication between two strong forces. She has been disgraced and blamed for the fall of the Aztec Empire.
