ABSTRACT
In the east-central part of Mexico are three indigenous groups known collectively as the Otopame: the Pame, Chichimec, and Otomí. Joseph Greenberg (1987:381) places their language in the Oto-Mangue family of languages of the Central Amerind phylum. The Pame (2,650 people), calling themselves Xi’úi, reside primarily in the state of San Luis Potosí. The Chichimec (1,500 people), calling themselves Ezar, live in one community within the state of Guanajuato. The Otomí, or Ñahñú (about 5,500 people), divide into several groups; most live in the eastern part of the state of Guanajuato and in the western part of the state of Querétaro; the rest are spread throughout Mexico.
