Kaqchikel

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A language of Guatemala

ISO 639-3
cak
Alternate Names
Cakchiquel, Kaqchiquel
Population

451,000 (1990 SIL).

Location

Chimaltenango department: Akatenango, San Martín Jilotepeque and Yepocapa municipalities; Santa Ana Chimaltenango and San Martín municipalities, San Juan Sacatepéquez municipality; El Quiché and Escuintla departments; Sololá department: north and east shores of Lake Atitlán.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19).

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

Acatenango Southwestern 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. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1931–2015. Agency: Academy of Mayan Languages.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kaqchikel
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

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