Tzeltal
PrintA language of Mexico
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Cancuc, Chanal, Highland Tzeltal, Oxchuc Tzeltal, Tenango, Tenejapa, Tseltal
Population
372,000 (2000 INALI). 50,000 monolinguals.
Location
East central 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. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Spanish [spa] or Ch’ol [ctu]. 100 can also speak Tojolabal [toj].
Language Development
50,000 readers, 40,000 can write. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Bible: 2002.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script.
Christian.