History of the Mayan language

It is known that the ancient Mayan civilization began producing words and
communicating more than 5,000 years ago. The original Mayan language is known
as Protomaya or Nab'ee Maya' Tziij in K'iche'. Although it became extinct a long
time ago, it is known that it developed and adapted. Even extending to textual
communication through hieroglyphs.

In fact, it was separated into 4 different languages, which formed main divisions:
Eastern, Western, Yukateka and Wasteka. For their part, the eastern and western
divisions were also divided into 2 branches each. On the other hand, the yukateka
and wasteka were not separated.

In this way, 6 main branches of the Mayan languages were formed. These are the
K'iche' and Mam branches of the eastern division, Q'anjob'al and Ch'ol of the
western branch, the Yukateka branch and the Wasteka branch.

Subsequently, each branch divided further and further, creating variations within
the language, until there ended up being more than 30 languages. In fact, the
Mayan languages currently spoken and recognized by the country are 22.

The Academy of Mayan Languages was founded in Guatemala in 1986, and is the
main regulatory authority for these languages in the country. This is extremely
important, since Guatemala is characterized by its multilingualism.
 Words in the Kaqchikel language

 Greetings in the Kaqchikel language

Good morning – Saqer.

Good morning, thank you – Saqer matyox.

Good evening – Xo'qa'.

How are you? – The ütz awäch.

Well thank you – Ütz matyox.

Excellent! – Matyox k'ari.

 Personal pronouns in the Kaqchikel language

Me – Rïn.

You – Rat.

Him and her – Rija'.

We – Röj.

You – Rïx.

They and them – Rije'.

 The Kaqchikel language

Kaqchikel is a language spoken by the ethnic Kaqchikel population in the western

central region of Guatemala. The Kakchikel language is part of the Quichean group
of languages, which in turn is part of the Mayan linguistic family. With
approximately half a million speakers, it is one of the most important Mayan
languages in Guatemala. The majority of Kaqchikel speakers are bilingual of their
native language and Spanish.

 Places where Kaqchikel is spoken

It is spoken in 54 municipalities of seven departments: In one municipality of Baja

Verapaz, in 16 municipalities of Chimaltenango, in one municipality of Escuintla, in
seven municipalities of Guatemala, in fourteen municipalities of Sacatepéquez, in
11 municipalities of Sololá and in four municipalities of Suchitepéquez.

 Department of Baja Verapaz: Granados (Estancia de García).

 Department of Chimaltenango: Acatenango, Chimaltenango, El Tejar,
Parramos, Patzicía, Patzún, San Andrés Itzapa, San José poaquil, San
Juan Comalapa, San Martín Jilotepeque, San Miguel Pochuta, San Pedro
Yepocapa, Santa Apolonia, Santa Cruz Balanza, Tecpán, Zaragoza
(villages).
 Department of Escuintla: Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa.
 Department of Guatemala: Amatitlán (Trojes), Charrancho, San Juan
Sacatepequez, San Pedro Ayampuc, San Pedro Sacapepequez, San
Raymundo, Villanueva (Bárcenas).
 Department of Sacatepequez: Jocotenango (Mano de León), Magdalena
Milpas Altas, Pastores (San Luis Pueblo Nuevo), San Antonio Aguas
Calientes, San Bartolomé Milpas Altas, San Juan Alotenago, San Lucas
Sacatepequez, San Miguel Dueñas, Santa Catarina Barahona, Santa Lucía
Milpas Altas, Santa María de Jesus, Santiago Sacatepequez, Santo
Domingo Xenacoj, Sumpango.
 Department of Sololá: Concepción, Panajachel, San Andrés semetabaj, San
Antonio Palopo, San José Chacayá, San Juan La Laguna (Tzantziapa), San
Lucas Tolimán, San Marcos La Laguna, Santa Catarina Palopo, Santa Cruz
La Laguna and Sololá.
 Department of Suchitepequez: Patulul, San Antonio Suchitepequez (part),
San Juan Bautista and Santa Barbara (agrop. Atitlán).
 Mayan customs and traditions

 Carrying out human sacrifices

For the Mayan culture, these rites were necessary to guarantee the proper
functioning of the universe, the passage of the seasons, the growth of corn and the
passage of time.

Their objective was to protect the lives of human beings and at the same time keep
the existence of the gods alive.

 Mayan ball game practice

Also called “Pok a Pok”, because of the sound that the ball produced when it was
hit against the walls of the courts or the arms and hips of the players. The Mayans
used to play ball, and the existence of different ball courts ancient cultures in the
Yucatan Peninsula demonstrates this.

 Cenote worship

Cenotes are natural water wells of great beauty, the largest being found throughout
the entire Riviera Maya. They are geomorphological forms, like small caves, that
contain large underground rivers inside. The Mayans gave a divine and sacred
character to these wells, seeing them as the ideal place for performing human
sacrifices and worshiping the gods.

 Wajxaquib'B'atz ceremony “the 8th of the monkey”

Ceremony that takes place every 260 days and continues to take place among the
Quiche Mayan people of Guatemala. The objective is to celebrate the new cycle of
the sacred Tzolk'in calendar of the Mayans. During the ceremony, a man or
woman is chosen who will be the calendar counters, and who will serve as a
spiritual and cultural guide to the community.