Chuj language

Chuj
Pronunciation	[tʃuːx]
Spoken in	Guatemala, Mexico
Region	Northern Huehuetenango, Chiapas
Ethnicity	Chuj
Native speakers	50,000  (1991)
Language family	Mayan Q’anjobalan–Chujean Chujean Chuj
Language codes
ISO 639-3	cac

Chuj is one of the Mayan languages spoken by around 40,000 people in Guatemala and 10,000 in Mexico. Chuj together with the languages of Tojolab'al, Mocho', Akateko, Q'anjob'al and Popti' form the western branch of the Mayan family of languages. Chuj created its own branch about 21 centuries ago.^[1] In Guatemala, Chuj speakers are located in three municipalities in the department of Huehuetenango. They are San Mateo Ixtatán, San Sebastián Coatán and Nentón.^[2] There is a high level of language conservation in these areas. Some communities of Barillas and Ixcán also speak Chuj in Guatemala.

The Chuj Mayan language has been influenced by Spanish and speakers of this language have a tendency to mix Chuj with Spanish words. It is estimated that 70% of the Chuj language is purely Chuj.^[3]

Alphabet and Spelling

The alphabet of the Chuj language

a, b', ch, ch', e, h, i, j, k, k', l, m, n, nh, o, p, r, s, t, t', tz, tz', u, w, v, x, y, ' (saltillo)^[4]

Some words in Chuj from San Mateo Ixtatán

• pat = house
• ix = woman
• vinak = man
• unin = child
• va'il = tortilla
• ixim = corn
• tut = beans
• pajich = tomato
• k'u = sun
• nhab' = rain
• ik' = wind or air
• asun = cloud

Numbers 1 through 10 in Chuj

San Mateo Ixtatán / San Sebastián Coatán

1. Ju'un / Jun^[5]
2. Cha'ab' / Cha'ab'/chab'
3. Oxe' / Oxe'
4. Chanhe' / Chanhe'
5. Hoye' / O'e'
6. Wake' / Wake'
7. Huke' / Huke'
8. Wajxake' / Wajxke'
9. B'alunhe' / B'alnhe'
10. Lajunhe' / Lajnhe'

A tongue twister in Chuj from San Sebastián Coatán

Nok' Xankatat yet' nok'xe'en^[6]

Xenhxni xekxni xanhxni hinb'eyi

Xankatak xanhb' wek' a stixalu

Xchi nok' xankat a nok' xe'en,

Xwila xwabi, xelab'a to ojinwekla,

to jinxekla manhx ojinwekla.

Notes and references

1. ^ Stzolalil Stz'ib'chaj Ti' Chuj, ALMG, 2007, p.34
2. ^ "Comunidad Lingüística Chuj -Historia". Academia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala. http://www.almg.org.gt/portal/index.php?id=40&idioma=1. Retrieved 2009-01-20. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ Yumal Skuychaj Ti' Chuj, ALMG, 2006, p.234
4. ^ Stzolalil Sloloni-Spaxtini Heb' Chuj, ALMG, 2007, p. 66
5. ^ Stzolalil Sloloni-Spaxtini Heb' Chuj, ALMG, 2007, p. 145
6. ^ Yumal Skuychaj Ti' Chuj, ALMG, 2006, p.197

External links

• Ethnlogue entry for Chuj of Ixtatán
• Ethnologue entry for Chuj of San Sebastián Coatán
• Academia de las Lenguas Mayas