Oaxaca is the state with the greatest ethnic and linguistic diversity of Mexico, Nowadays in the territory of Oaxaca there are 18 ethnic groups of the 65 that there is in Mexico: Mixteco, Zapoteosc, Triqui, Mixes, Chatinos, Chinantecos, Huaves, Mazatecos, Amuzgos, Nahuas, Zoque, Chontales of Oaxaca, Cuicatecs, Ixcatecos, Chocholtec, Tacuates, Afromexicanos in the Small coast of Oaxaca and in a lesser extent the Tzotziles.
It is known as Zapotec to many languages in the state of Oaxaca: Zapotec of the Isthmus, Zapotec of Mitla, Zapotec of San Pedro Quiaton, Zapotec of Sierra Juaréz, Zoogocho Zapotec Cahatino. The Zapotec of the Isthmus is spoken about 75, 000.
"Baile en Tehuantepec". By Diego Rivera, 1935.
There is a poetry that I really like, It is titled "Diidxazá" written by Gabriel López Chiñas.
Diidxazá
Naacabe 'ma chee diidxazá,
guiruti ma 'Zani' la ';
ma birábilushe naacabe '
diidxa 'Guni binnizá.
Diidxa 'Guni binnizá,
binidxaba the zine '
yanna ca binni nuu xpiaani '
Güirá 'hriní' diidxaxtiá.
Ay !, diidxazá, diidxazá,
ca or bidiideche lii,
qui gannadica 'Fabia'
nñaaca 'gunashiica' lii.
Ay !, diidxazá, diidxazá,
diidxa 'hrusibani na'
na 'nanna zanitilu'
dxi initi gubidxaca '.
Zapotec
People say that Zapotec is dying,
and no one will speak it;
It is already finished, people say,
the language of their ancestors.
The language of the Zapotecs,
it will be taken by the evil,
Now the educated people
all speak Spanish.
Ay !, Zapotec, Zapotec,
those who gave the back to you,
do not know how
their mothers loved to you.
Ay !, Zapotec Zapotec,
language that revives me,
I know you will you die,
the day that the sun dies.