Kaqchikel

This is a Mayan language, also is an indigenous Mesoamerican language and a member of the Quichean–Mamean branch of the Mayan languages family. It is spoken by the indigenous Kaqchikel people in Guatemala, closely related to Kʼicheʼ.

The Annals of the Cakchiquels (also called Anales de los Cakchiqueles, Memorial de Tecpán-Atitlán, or Memorial de Sololá), written in Kaqchikel between 1571 and 1604, is considered an important example of Native American literature. It contains both mythology and historical information pertaining especially to the Kaqchikel ruling lineages.

Before conquest

Kaqchikel is spoken by the indigenous Maya in Central Guatemala. The Mayan civilization dates back to the Pre-classic period (2000 BC to 300 AD). Geographically, the Maya expanded from Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. This changed between 900 AD and when the Spanish arrived. Their settlement moved west and into the highlands of Guatemala. Archaeological evidence shows suggestions of Kaqchikel living in Iximcheʼ, which today is located near Tecpan, Guatemala.

After conquest

In 1523, the Spaniards left Mexico and headed towards Guatemala. This crusade was led by Pedro de Alvarado. His first victory was over the Kʼiche, which led him towards the Kaqchikel capital. The Kaqchikel joined forces with de Alvarado, to take over the Tzʼutujiles. Instead, their hopes to become stronger were defeated when de Alvarado turned against them and destroyed their capital, which was a part of the Spanish mass extermination plans of the indigenous. This plan decreased the number of Kaqchikel speakers, as they were required to then speak Spanish.

Present

Today, the Mayan language of Kaqchikel is being revitalized and several Mayans are using education as a way to restore their language and culture. In 1986 the Academy of the Mayan Languages of Guatemala (ALMG) discovered an alphabet for the Mayan languages, which started a new movement for linguistic conversation.

Literacy

Literacy rates in Kaqchikel are low. Literacy campaigns are usually conducted in Spanish, and promote Spanish. In fact, most Mayan people are more literate in Spanish than they are in their native tongue. However, this is changing due to the movement to promote Mayan language literacy. Kaqchikel is being taught in public schools such as Guatemala's intercultural bilingual education programs. United States universities also offer programs that give the opportunity to learn Kaqchikel, such as Tulane University and the University of Kansas.nu.

 

At Trápaga Asociados – Interpretation & Translation Agency, we work with all Mayan languages including Kaqchikel.

Please contact us with any job or project inquiries.

www.asociadostrapaga.com

+502 55717516

 Sipakapense

Sipacapense is a Mayan language. It is closely related to Quiche, and some people consider it a dialect of Quiche.

Sipacapense is spoken by about 7000 people in Guatemala. It is primarily based in the municipality of Sipacapa in the department of San Marcos.

            Sipakapense is also known as Sipaka, Sipacapa, Sipacapa Quiché, Sipacapense or Sipacapeño. The name Sipakapense comes from the Nahuatl Sipaktlipan, and means "place of the lizard".

Sipakapense is written with the Latin alphabet, although few Sipakapense speakers are literate in their language. It is an officially recognized language in Guatemala.

 

 

At Trápaga Asociados – Interpretation & Translation Agency, we work with all Mayan languages including Sipakapense.

Please contact us with any job or project inquiries.

https://asociadostrapaga.com/home/

+502 55717516

Tekiteko

The language, legally, is recognized in Guatemala. According to the Guatemalan Constitution, Spanish is considered the official language of the country, while the “vernacular languages” are part of the cultural heritage. In the course of recent years, many initiatives have been launched (such as the National Languages ​​Law, in 2003) in order to defend and promote the use of the languages ​​of the Mayan, Garifuna and Xinca peoples.

Tektiteko is part of the Mayan languages ​​that are standardized, protected and promoted by the Academia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala , an autonomous state organization, created in 1990.

Vitality and transmission : Tektiteko due to the small number of speakers is probably one of the most threatened Mayan languages. And it is also one of the least studied and a lot of scientific information about this language is lacking. In the tektiteko that is currently spoken there are numerous loanwords from Spanish.

Several sources ( Ethnologue et Linguamón , among others) testify to an ever-existing transmission and a recent renewal of interest on the part of the younger generations in Tectitán. However, much remains to be done to secure the future of the language.

The tektiteko is part of Sorosoro's endangered languages ​​video documentation program. The filming took place in March 2009, with the collaboration of the linguist Juventino de Jesús Pérez Alonzo.

 

At Trápaga Asociados – Interpretation & Translation Agency, we work with all Mayan languages including Tekiteko.

Please contact us with any job or project inquiries.

https://asociadostrapaga.com/home/

+502 55717516