Ixil
Is a Mayan language spoken by around 70,000 people in
Guatemala. There are three main varieties of Ixil: Chajul, Nebaj, and San Juan
Cotzal. Some linguists consider them to be three distinct languages, while
others consider them dialects of a single Ixil language. Chajul and Nebaj Ixil
use VSO word order while Ixil de San Juan Cotzal uses VOS.
According to historical linguistic studies Ixil emerged
as a separate language sometime around the year 500AD. It is the primary
language of the Ixil people, which comprises the three towns of San Juan
Cotzal, Santa Maria Nebaj, and San Gaspar Chajul in the Guatemalan highlands.
There is also an Ixil speaking migrant population in Guatemala City and the
United States. Although there are slight differences in vocabulary in the
dialects spoken by people in the three different Ixil towns, they are all
mutually intelligible and should be considered dialects of a single language.
At Trápaga Asociados – Interpretation & Translation Agency, we work with all Mayan languages including Ixil.
Please contact us with any job or project inquiries.
+502 55717516
