Kaqchikel

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A language of Guatemala

ISO 639-3
cak
Alternate Names
Cakchiquel, Kaqchiquel
Population

451,000 (1990–1998 SIL).

Location

South, Chimaltenango Department, Yepocapa municipality; San Martín Jilotepeque municipality, San Martín and Santa Ana Chimaltenango towns and rural areas; northwest of Guatemala City, San Juan Sacatepéquez; south of Antigua; west of Guatemala City on the Pan American highway; Akatenango municipality; Sololá Department, North and east shores of Lake Atitlán.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, K’ichean, Poqom-K’ichean, Core K’ichean, Kaqchikel-Tz’utujil
Dialects

Akatenango Soutwestern Cakchiquel, Eastern Cakchiquel, Northern Cakchiquel, Santa María de Jesús Cakchiquel (Kach’ab’al), Santo Domingo Xenacoj Cakchiquel, South Central Cakchiquel, Southern Cakchiquel, Western Cakchiquel, Yepocapa Southwestern Cakchiquel.

Typology

SVO.

Language Use

Vigorous. Nearly all parents pass Kaqchikel on to children. All ages. Also use Spanish [spa]. Used as L2 by K’iche’ [quc].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–39%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. New media. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1931–2012.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kaqchikel
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.