Final answer:
The speakers of Huichol have changed over time due to colonization, cultural assimilation, disease impact on populations, and economic factors that compel adoption of dominant languages, although there are ongoing efforts for language revitalization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of speakers of any language, including Huichol, changes over time due to various factors such as globalization, migration, economic changes, education policies, and the influence of dominant languages. Aspects of colonization greatly affected the indigenous languages of Mesoamerica, including Huichol. European colonizers often prioritized their language and culture, leading to a decline in native languages as indigenous people were assimilated, converted, and sometimes coerced into new cultural and linguistic norms. Diseases brought by Europeans also had devastating effects on indigenous populations, reducing the number of speakers. In modern times, increased urbanization and the need to speak dominant languages for economic reasons continue to challenge smaller language communities, although efforts for revitalization and cultural preservation have had some success in sustaining the Huichol language.