Awakatek language

Mayan language of Guatemala From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Awakatek (also known as Aguateco, Awaketec, Coyotin,[3] and Balamiha, and natively as Qa'yol) is a Mayan language spoken in Guatemala, primarily in Huehuetenango and around Aguacatán.[4][5] The language only has fewer than 10,000 speakers, and is considered vulnerable by UNESCO. In addition, the language in Mexico is at high risk of endangerment, with fewer than 2,000 speakers in the state of Campeche in 2010[6] (although the number of speakers was unknown as of 2000[7][8]).

Quick Facts Native to, Region ...
Awakatek
Aguacatec, Coyotin
Qa'yol
Native toGuatemala
RegionHuehuetenango
Ethnicity12,500 Awakatek (2019 census)
Native speakers
10,100 in Guatemala (2019 census)[1]
20 in Mexico (2020 census)[2]
Mayan
Dialects
  • Chalchitek
Official status
Recognised minority
language in
Regulated byAcademia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala
Language codes
ISO 639-3agu
Glottologagua1252
ELPAwakateko
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Awakatek is closely related to Ixil and the two languages together form the sub-branch Ixilean, which together with the Mamean languages, Mam and Tektitek, form a sub-branch Greater-Mamean, which again, together with the Greater-Quichean languages, ten Mayan languages, including Kʼicheʼ, form the branch Quichean–Mamean.

Otto Stoll identified two separate "Awakatek" languages spoken in the same area; the first being the Mayan language, and the second being a poorly known language which has been classified as part of the Mixe-Zoque family.[9]

Chalchitek

Quick Facts Chalchitek, Native to ...
Chalchitek
Chalchitec
Native toGuatemala
RegionHuehuetenango
Mayan
Language codes
ISO 639-3None (mis)
GlottologNone
ELPAwakateko
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Chalchitek (or Chalchitec) is sometimes considered a dialect of Awakatek. In recent years, however, it has been recognized as a distinct language by the Guatemalan government.[10] Chalchitek is primarily spoken in the Chalchitán neighborhood of Aguacatán.

Sample text

More information English, Aguacateco ...
Sample words[11]
EnglishAguacateco
OneJuun
TwoKob'
ThreeOx
FourKyaaj
FiveO'
SixQaq
SevenJuug
EightWajwax
NineB'eluj
TenLajuj
ManYaaj
WomanXna'n
DogTx'i'
SunQ'eej
MoonXaaw
WaterA'
MotherNtxuu'
FatherNtaaj
HouseKa'l
BlackQ'eq
WhiteSaq
CornIxi'n
FishKay
DogXhwiit
DeerCheej
JaguarB'alam
MonkeyAq'
RabbitUmul
MouseIchi
BirdCh'ut
FishKay
SnakeLupa
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Etymology

The Awakatek people themselves refer to their language as qaʼyol, literally meaning 'our word'. They also call themselves qatanum, which means 'our people' and is distinct from the word Awakatec, which is used in Spanish in reference to the municipality of Aguacatán (which means place of abundant avocados and refers to agricultural production and not specifically to the indigenous people).[12][13][14]

Phonology

Vowels

More information Front, Central ...
Front Central Back
short long short long short long
Close i /i/ii /iː/ u /u/uu /uː/
Mid e /e/ee /eː/ o /o/oo /oː/
Open a /a/ aa /aː/
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Diphthongs

There are four diphthongs: ay /aj/, ey /ej/, oy /oj/, uy /uj/.

Consonants

More information Bilabial, Alveolar ...
Bilabial Alveolar Postalveolar Retroflex Palatal Velar Uvular Glottal
Normal Palatalized
Plosive Normal p /p/ t /t/ k /k/ ky /kʲ/ q /q/ ' /ʔ/
Ejective /tʼ/ /kʼ/ kyʼ/kʼʲ/ /qʼ/
Implosive /ɓ/
Nasal m /m/ n /n/
Fricative s /s/ xh /ʃ/ x /ʂ/ j /h/
Affricate Normal tz /t͡s/ ch /t͡ʃ/ tx /ʈ͡ʂ/
Ejective tzʼ /t͡sʼ/ chʼ /t͡ʃʼ/ txʼ /ʈ͡ʂʼ/
Trill r /r/
Approximant l /l/ y /j/ w /w/
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The coronal ejectives may be allophonically pre-voiced.[15]

References

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