Mam

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A language of Guatemala

ISO 639-3
mam
Alternate Names
Huehuetenango Mam
Population

530,000 in Guatemala (1991–2000). Population total all countries: 537,980.

Location

Western Huehuetenango Department, San Sebastián and other towns; San Marcos Department, 17 towns; Quetzaltenango Department, 9 towns; Retalhuleu Department, 1 town; Western Ostuncalco area, San Juan Ostuncalco, San Martín Sacatepéquez, and other towns; San Marcos Department, Tajumulco and Ixchiguán; western San Marcos Department, rural areas west of Tacaná, western Guatemala border, and in Sibinal and Tectitán. Dialects in San Miguel Ixtahuacán (18,000) and Concepción Tutapa (30,000). Also in Mexico.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational). Statutory language of national identity (2003, National Languages Act, Decree No. 19).

Classification
Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, Mamean, Teco-Mam
Dialects

Central Mam (Comitancillo Mam, Mam Marquense, Mam Occidental, San Marcos Comitancillas Mam, Western Mam), Southern Mam (Mam Quetzalteco, Ostuncalco Mam, Quetzaltenango Mam, San Juan Ostuncalco Mam), Tacanec (Mamé, Tacaná Mam, Tiló, Western Mam), Tajumulco Mam, Todos Santos Cuchumatán Mam (Todos Santos Mam). Tacanec is the most distinctive of all the Mam varieties. Lexical similarity: 77% between the Tajumulco variety and the Comitancillo dialect.

Typology

VSO

Language Use

Positive attitudes.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–37%. Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1993.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mam
Writing
Latin script.

Also spoken in:

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