This volume investigates how Andean cultures construct meaning through diverse modes of communication, including oral traditions, ritual performances, and written discourse. Edited by Rosaleen Howard-Malverde, the collection synthesizes research from a 1991 conference to examine the intersection of language, identity, and historical memory. The contributors utilize anthropological and linguistic frameworks to analyze how these expressive media function as tools for both cultural preservation and resistance against colonial legacies.

Scholars and anthropologists frequently cite this collection as a foundational resource for understanding the complexities of Andean semiotics and linguistic history. The text is recognized for its rigorous academic approach to the intersection of indigenous expression and colonial influence.