Tzeltal

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A language of Mexico

ISO 639-3
tzh
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).

Classification
Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, Core Mayan, Cholan-Tzeltalan, Tzeltalan, Tzeltal
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. 100 also use Tojolabal [toj]. Also use Chol [ctu], Spanish [spa].

Language Development
50,000 readers, 40,000 can write. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Bible: 2002.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tzeltal
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian.