Dossier “Indigenous Languages for an Intercultural History of the Americas”

The Revista de Historia Social y de las Mentalidades invites submissions for the dossier titled “Indigenous Languages for an Intercultural History of the Americas”, to be published during the first semester of 2026.

Submitted articles must address the role of indigenous languages in history and may be written in Spanish, English, or Portuguese.

This dossier accompanies the launch of a new section of the journal dedicated to publishing articles and essays written entirely in Indigenous languages, with translations into Spanish, English, or Portuguese. In this context, the issue aims to become a reference point for academic and university policies seeking to revalue and revitalize Indigenous languages.

In recent decades, there has been a growing inclusion of Indigenous languages in Latin American historiographical research. Since the pioneering work of Mexican historian Miguel León Portilla—who studied the Nahuatl language in his famous Vision of the Vanquished—numerous researchers have focused on texts preserved in libraries and archives across Latin America and beyond. These studies highlight the presence of Indigenous languages in political, legal, cultural, religious, and even economic spheres, underscoring the importance of studying them seriously to understand their role in the history of Latin American societies.

Evidence of this includes research on dictionaries, sermons, and catechisms in Indigenous languages throughout colonial and republican America, as well as other literary expressions such as songs, poems, music, memory, writings from Indigenous thought, and their use in courts, community political organizations, or descriptions of agreements, contracts, and services, among others.

Articles for this dossier may address diverse themes related to the history of Latin America, as long as Indigenous languages play a central and prominent role.

Languages accepted: Spanish, English, or Portuguese, referring to any Indigenous language from the Americas.
Call opens: October 20, 2025
Deadline: March 1, 2026
Submissions: https://www.revistas.usach.cl/ojs/index.php/historiasocial/envio