Intergenerational transmission dynamics and linguistic vitality in indigenous contexts: a multidisciplinary systematic review with emphasis on the Zapotec case.

Abstract

This study analyzes the dynamics of intergenerational knowledge transmission and linguistic vitality in indigenous communities, and articulates a comparative framework for the case of the Zapotec language in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. A systematic review of 16 empirical studies was conducted for a multiple case study, encompassing a diversity of contexts and methodological approaches. The results indicate that cultural erosion is a multi-causal phenomenon, driven by socioeconomic pressures and institutional failures in education. Persistence is associated with individual agency, horizontal transmission among peers, and flexible community structures. The integration of mixed methods is fundamental for designing theoretical models that explain cultural resilience in indigenous studies.