III - Tz'utujil

Tz’utujil, a Mayan language predominately spoken in parts of Guatemala, is very similar to its ancestor language of K’iche’. As of the 2019 census, Tz’utujil has around 72,000 speakers, and is classified as an endangered language. Despite this, the speakers of Tz’utujil continue to adapt to the hardships of changing times and circumstances. The culture of Mayan Tz’utujil is rich - the streets of some Guatemalan cities such as San Pablo are full of history shared among generations of Tz’utujil speakers. While disadvantaged by Spanish, the more popular and “modern” language, Tz’utujil continues to stand firm and preserve its authenticity.

Geography

The Tz’utujil Maya, dating back all the way to 900 CE, reside in what is now southern Guatemala, near Lago de Atitlán (Lake Atitlán). It is a popular tourist spot, and for good reason; the volcanic lake is known as the most beautiful lake in the world. As seen on the chart, a number of Mayan languages exist in Guatemala. Tz’utujil speakers are centered just below Lago de Atitlán.

History

Despite the rising number of speakers, Tz’utujil faces a number of hardships. Historically, Mayan cultures have faced near-complete eradication of their cultures and achievements by the hands of European colonists and explorers. Despite the revitalization efforts of the Guatemalan Academy of Mayan Languages, Tz’utujil speakers often face many disadvantages in society; Spanish is much more popular and “accepted” by younger generations, which can be impact workplace hiring. The struggles of the Tz’utujil Maya are only a page in their story, and they will continue to pass down their culture, history, and individuality from speaker to speaker.

Language

Tz’utujil has two main dialects: Eastern and Western. Both dialects adopt the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO). Tz’utujil has five short and five long vowels. Stress is always on the final syllable of native words, except for the adjectival vowel suffix in certain environments

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