K’iche’

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A language of Guatemala

ISO 639-3
quc
Alternate Names
Central K’iche’, Central Quiché, Chiquel, Quiché
Autonym
Qach’abel
Population

891,000 (2003 census). 300,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,270,000 (2003 census).

Location

Quiché department: Chichicastenango, Chiché, Cunén, Joyabaj, Sacapulas, San Andrés Sajcabajá, Uspantán, Zacualpa municipalities; Quetzaltenango, Retalhuleu, Sololá, Suchitepéquez, and Totonicapán departments; some communities in Huehuetenango and Baja Verapaz departments.

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
Dialects

Cunén Kiché, Joyabaj Kiché, West Central Kiché, Eastern Kiché, San Andrés Kiché.

Typology

VOS; ergativity; passives (active, passive, antipassive); aspect; 24 consonant and 10 vowel phonemes; non-tonal; stress on penultimate or final syllable.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains, interpreters required in courts, some bilingual schools, oral use in religious services. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Many also use Spanish [spa]. Some also use Kaqchikel [cak]. A few also use Mam [mam], Q’eqchi’ [kek], Tz’utujil [tzj].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–35%. 40,000 readers, 20,000 can write in K’iche’. Taught in primary schools. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1995. Agency: Academy of Mayan Languages.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about K’iche’
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

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