Poqomchi’

A language of Guatemala

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Pocomchí, Poconchí, Pokomchí, Pokonchí, Tactic Pokomchí

Autonym

Poqonchi

Population

92,900 (2003 census). 40,000 monolinguals (2017 B. Ramirez). Ethnic population: 114,000 (2003 census).

Location

Alta Verapaz department: San Cristobal Verapaz area; Baja Verapaz department: notheast of Salama; El Quiché department: eastward from Uspantan.

Language Status

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

Classification

Dialects

Eastern Poqomchi, Santa Cruz Verapaz Poqomchi, Western Poqomchi.

Typology

SVO.

Language Use

All ages. Also use Q’eqchi’ [kek], Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 21%–35%. Taught in primary schools. Grammar. Bible: 2009. Agency: Academy of Mayan Languages.

Language Resources

Writing

Latin script [Latn].