Tzeltal
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A language of Mexico
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Cancuc, Chanal, Highland Tzeltal, Oxchuc Tzeltal, Tenango, Tenejapa, Tenejapa Tzeltal, Tseltal
Autonym
Bats’il k’op
Population
273,000 (2000 INALI). 50,000 monolinguals.
Location
Chiapas: Oxchuc area.
Language Maps
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Dialects
Amatenango del Valle, Bachajon Tzeltal (Lowland Tzeltal, Tzeltal de Ocosingo), Chanal Cancuc, Tenango, Tzeltal del Norte, Tzeltal del occidente, Tzeltal del oriente, Tzeltal del Sur.
Typology
VOS.
Language Use
Vigorous. Some Tzotzil also speak Tzeltal. Some families now use Spanish [spa]. Some Ch’ol [ctu] in north border area and lowland learned Tzeltal. All domains. Oral use in administration, commerce, some oral and written use in education, religion. Minimal use in government schools. Used by all. Positive attitudes. A few also use Tojolabal [toj]. Also use Chol [ctu], Spanish [spa].
Language Development
50,000 readers, 40,000 can write. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Bible: 2002.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Christian.