Chuj language
Encyclopedia
Chuj is one of the Mayan languages
spoken by around 40,000 people in Guatemala
and 10,000 in Mexico
. Chuj together with the languages of Tojolab'al, Mocho'
, Akateko
, Q'anjob'al
and Popti'
form the western branch of the Mayan family of languages. Chuj created its own branch about 21 centuries ago. In Guatemala, Chuj speakers are located in three municipalities in the department of Huehuetenango. They are San Mateo Ixtatán
, San Sebastián Coatán
and Nentón
. There is a high level of language conservation in these areas. Some communities of Barillas and Ixcán also speak Chuj in Guatemala.
The Chuj Mayan language has been influenced by Spanish and speakers of this language have a tendency to mix Chuj with Spanish
words. It is estimated that 70% of the Chuj language is purely Chuj.
Xenhxni xekxni xanhxni hinb'eyi
Xankatak xanhb' wek' a stixalu
Xchi nok' xankat a nok' xe'en,
Xwila xwabi, xelab'a to ojinwekla,
to jinxekla manhx ojinwekla.
Mayan languages
The Mayan languages form a language family spoken in Mesoamerica and northern Central America. Mayan languages are spoken by at least 6 million indigenous Maya, primarily in Guatemala, Mexico, Belize and Honduras...
spoken by around 40,000 people in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
and 10,000 in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Chuj together with the languages of Tojolab'al, Mocho'
Mocho' language
Mocho’ or Mototzintlec is a language belonging to the western branch of Mayan languages spoken in the Mexican state of Chiapas. The two dialects of Mocho' are spoken in two different villages: the Tuzantec dialect in Tuzantán and the Motozintlec dialect in Mototzintla....
, Akateko
Akatek language
Akatek is a Mayan language spoken by the Akatek people primarily in the Huehuetenango Department, Guatemala in and around the municipalities of Concepción Huista, Nentón, San Miguel Acatán, San Rafael La Independencia and San Sebastián Coatán. A number of speakers also live in Chiapas, Mexico...
, Q'anjob'al
Q'anjob'al language
Q'anjob'al is a Mayan language spoken primarily in Guatemala and part of Mexico. According to 1998 estimates compiled by SIL International in Ethnologue, there were approximately 77,700 native speakers, primarily in the Huehuetenango Department of Guatemala. Q'anjob'al is a member of the...
and Popti'
Jakaltek language
The Jakaltek language is a Mayan language of Guatemala spoken by around 90,000 Jakaltek people in the department of Huehuetenango and the adjoining part of Chiapas in southern Mexico...
form the western branch of the Mayan family of languages. Chuj created its own branch about 21 centuries ago. In Guatemala, Chuj speakers are located in three municipalities in the department of Huehuetenango. They are San Mateo Ixtatán
San Mateo Ixtatán
San Mateo Ixtatán is a municipality in the Guatemalan department of Huehuetenango. It is situated at above sea level in the Cuchumatanes mountain range and covers of terrain. It has a cold climate and is located in a cloud forest. The temperature fluctuates between . The coldest months are from...
, San Sebastián Coatán
San Sebastián Coatán
San Sebastián Coatán is a municipality in the Guatemalan department of Huehuetenango. Its territory extends 560 km2, is 2,350m above sea level and has a cooler climate. It has 18,022 inhabitants who speak Spanish and Chuj...
and Nentón
Nentón
Nentón is a municipality in the Guatemalan department of Huehuetenango. Its territory extends 762.85 km2 and has 9,113 inhabitants. It became a municipality on December 5, 1876 and was formally known as San Benito Nentón...
. There is a high level of language conservation in these areas. Some communities of Barillas and Ixcán also speak Chuj in Guatemala.
The Chuj Mayan language has been influenced by Spanish and speakers of this language have a tendency to mix Chuj with Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
words. It is estimated that 70% of the Chuj language is purely Chuj.
The alphabet of the Chuj language
a, b', ch, ch', e, h, i, j, k, k', l, m, n, nh, o, p, r, s, t, t', tz, tz', u, w, v, x, y, ' (saltillo)Some words in Chuj from San Mateo Ixtatán
- pat = house
- ix = woman
- vinak = man
- unin = child
- va'il = tortilla
- ixim = corn
- tut = beans
- pajich = tomato
- k'u = sun
- nhab' = rain
- ik' = wind or air
- asun = cloud
Numbers 1 through 10 in Chuj
San Mateo Ixtatán / San Sebastián Coatán- Ju'un / Jun
- Cha'ab' / Cha'ab'/chab'
- Oxe' / Oxe'
- Chanhe' / Chanhe'
- Hoye' / O'e'
- Wake' / Wake'
- Huke' / Huke'
- Wajxake' / Wajxke'
- B'alunhe' / B'alnhe'
- Lajunhe' / Lajnhe'
A tongue twister in Chuj from San Sebastián Coatán
Nok' Xankatat yet' nok'xe'enXenhxni xekxni xanhxni hinb'eyi
Xankatak xanhb' wek' a stixalu
Xchi nok' xankat a nok' xe'en,
Xwila xwabi, xelab'a to ojinwekla,
to jinxekla manhx ojinwekla.