Itza’ language
| Itza' | |
|---|---|
| Itza, Itzaj | |
| Native to | Guatemala |
| Region | Petén |
| Ethnicity | Itza people |
|
Native speakers
|
(12 cited 1986) |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | |
| Glottolog | itza1241 |
Itza' (also known as Itza or Itzaj) is a language belonging to the Yucatecan branch of Mayan languages spoken by the Itza people near Lake Peten Itza, in modern day Guatemala. The language is endangered, with only 12 fluent speakers and 60 nonfluent speakers.
Itza' was the language of administration across much of the Yucatan Peninsula prior to 1697, when the Itza people controlled the last significant Mayan nation in Mesoamerica. During this time, the Itza people resettled their ancestral home in the Peten region. The subjugation of the Itza capital by the Spanish forced Itza people to flee or live amongst Spaniards, such as in San Jose, Guatemala, where the only modern speakers of the language live.
The modern Itza people are the last of the Lowland Maya to be able to directly trace their heritage back to the pre-Columbian era. The Itza' language reflects this history in its nomenclature for the natural world: Itza' words referring to agriculture and agricultural practices remain unchanged since first being recorded. Additionally, Itza' possesses a rich vocabulary for crops and animals that encodes specific information about different varietals and individuals of the species.
Itza' belongs to the Yucatecan branch of Mayan Languages. The other languages in the Yucatecan branch are Yucatec, Lakantun, and Mopan. All Yucatecan languages are closely linked with each other. However, people speaking Itza' and those speaking Yucatec have difficulties understanding each other. There are 12 different branches of Mayan language, all with sub families like Itza'.
The government banned the speaking of Itzá in the 1930s and two generations of Itzá Maya have grown up learning only Spanish. The late 1980s brought an increase in interest among Maya people, including the Itzá, in preserving their cultural heritage. There have been academies set up to help teach the Mayan language.
Itza' is spoken on the north shore of Lake Petén Itzá in San José, Petén Department, Guatemala. Among the ethnic population of 1800, there are only 12 fluent speakers and 60 non-fluent, Spanish-Itza' bilingual speakers.
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