Mulleres na Lexicografía

María Catrileo Chiguailaf

Mapudungun language, Spanish, English

July 11, 1945- Nueva Imperial, Chile

María Catrileo is a Mapuche linguist noted for her fundamental role in the preservation of her native language, Mapudungun. She trained in language pedagogy and applied linguistics at the University of Concepción and the University of Chile. Subsequently, she specialized in linguistic analysis methods by completing a Master's in Linguistics at the University of Texas at El Paso (USA). Her unique profile combines Western academic methodology with her Mapuche worldview and culture. She developed most of her professional career at the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities as a professor at the Austral University of Chile (UACh), where she held the Chair of Mapuche Language and Linguistics. Additionally, she played an essential role in designing school curricula to promote the teaching of Mapudungun and respect for diversity in bilingual contexts. In 2009, she received the Provincial Award for the Preservation of National Monuments for her work safeguarding intangible heritage. One of her greatest contributions was connecting an indigenous language with two globally influential languages in her most singular work: "Diccionario Lingüístico-Etnográfico de la Lengua Mapuche" (1987). This trilingual dictionary (Mapudungun, Spanish, and English) not only defines words but also explains the cultural and ethnographic context that gives them meaning. Furthermore, she was a key figure in standardizing the language as a promoter and reviewer of the Unified Alphabet for writing Mapudungun, a tool she champions as essential for the language's survival in the 21st century. She is also the author of fundamental learning manuals, such as "La lengua mapuche en el siglo XXI".

Catrileo, M. (2019): Mapudunguyu: curso de lengua mapuche, Santiago de Chile, Editorial Universitaria. Catrileo, M. (2005): Diccionario lingüístico etnográfico de la lengua mapuche: mapudungun, español, english, Santiago, Editorial Andrés Bello. Catrileo, M. (1995): Diccionario de uso del Mapudungun, Santiago, Editorial Andrés Bello. Catrileo, M. (2010): La lengua mapuche en el siglo XXI, Valdivia, Universidad Austral de Chile. Catrileo, M. (1988): Mapudungun: lengua mapuche, Valdivia, Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades, UACh. Catrileo, M. (1987): Diccionario lingüístico etnográfico de la lengua mapuche, Valdivia, Universidad Austral de Chile. Catrileo, M. (1986): Alfabeto Unificado para la lengua mapuche, Santiago, Sociedad Chilena de Lingüística. Catrileo, M. (1972): A Tagmemic Phonology of Mapudungun (MA Thesis), El Paso, University of Texas.

Catrileo, M. (2019). Mapudunguyu: curso de lengua mapuche. Santiago, Chile: Editorial Universitaria. Retrieved on January 27, 2026 from https://books.google.cl/books?id=gyJgDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Mansilla, J. (1998). Interview with María Catrileo. Revista Austral de Ciencias Sociales. Retrieved on January 27, 2026 from http://revistas.uach.cl/pdf/racs/n8/art04.pdf Diario UACh. (2010). Book Launch: «La Lengua Mapuche en el Siglo XXI» by María Catrileo. Retrieved on January 27, 2026 from https://diario.uach.cl/presentacin-del-libro-la-lengua-mapuche-en-el-siglo-xxi-de-mara-catrileo/ UFRO. (2022). Universidad de La Frontera recognized linguist María Catrileo for her contribution to the knowledge of the Mapuche people. Retrieved on January 27, 2026 from https://estudiosindigenas.ufro.cl/noticias/universidad-de-la-frontera-reconocio-a-la-linguista-maria-catrileo-por-su-contribucion-a-los-saberesdel-pueblo-mapuche/

María Catrileo is socially recognized as a “Living Human Treasure” for her unique work in transmitting the Mapuche memory and language, being a fundamental figure for the safeguarding of traditions in danger of disappearing. In 2022, she was honored by the University of La Frontera as one of the most influential women in the defense of her people's knowledge. She also stands out as a reference in 20th-century lexicography, paving the way as a woman and native researcher in a field that, at the time, was predominantly dominated by men and foreign specialists.

Google Scholar. (n.d.). María Catrileo: Citation profile. Retrieved on January 27, 2026 from https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Maria+Catrileo Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage of Chile. (n.d.). María Catrileo: Living Human Treasure and linguist. Retrieved on January 27, 2026 from https://www.cultura.gob.cl/ Cultural Heritage of Chile. (n.d.). Bearers of traditions: Mapudungun Language. Retrieved on January 27, 2026 from https://www.patrimoniocultural.gob.cl/ SciELO Chile. (n.d.). Articles by María Catrileo in scientific linguistics journals. Retrieved on January 27, 2026 from https://www.scielo.cl/ Universidad Austral de Chile. (n.d.). María Catrileo: Academic and researcher at the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities. Retrieved on January 27, 2026 from https://humanidades.uach.cl/ Universidad de La Frontera. (2022). Recognition of María Catrileo for her contribution to Mapuche knowledge. Retrieved on January 27, 2026 from https://estudiosindigenas.ufro.cl/ Wikipedia. (n.d.). María Catrileo. Retrieved on January 27, 2026 from https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar%C3%ADa_Catrileo Photo: Diario UACh. (2024). Ediciones UACh reissues the Linguistic-Ethnographic Dictionary of the Mapuche Language by María Catrileo. [Image]. Retrieved on January 27, 2026 from https://diario.uach.cl/ediciones-uach-reedita-diccionario-lingstico-etnogrfico-de-la-lengua-mapuche-de-mara-catrileo/

Rebeca Göthlin González

Rebeca Göthlin González