Ixil language
| Ixil | |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | [ɪ̆ʃɪ̆l] |
| Native to | Guatemala |
| Region | Quiché Department |
| Ethnicity | Ixil |
|
Native speakers
|
69,000 (1998) to 140,000 (2001) |
|
Mayan
|
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | |
| Glottolog | ixil1251 |
Ixil-Maya is one of the 21 different Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala. According to historical linguistic studies Ixil emerged as a separate language sometime around the year 500AD. It is the primary language of the Ixil Community, which comprises the three towns of San Juan Cotzal, Santa Maria Nebaj, and San Gaspar Chajul in the Guatemalan highlands. There is also an Ixil speaking migrant population in Guatemala City and the United States. Although there are slight differences in vocabulary in the dialects spoken by people in the three different Ixil towns, they are all mutually intelligible and should be considered dialects of a single language.
A notable feature of Ixil is that all short vowels are either central or back vowels and all long vowels are front vowels. This is a unique feature not found in other Mayan languages. As an exception, some speakers do not pronounce ⟨oo⟩ as front [øː] but rather as a back [oː]. Also, some speakers also pronounce ⟨i⟩ as [i] rather than [ɪ]. Short vowels are very short in Ixil, and long ⟨uu⟩ [yː] is extra long and stressed.
Ixil pronominals are discerned between ergative ones and absolutive ones. A notable feature of the language's grammar is its ambiguity in discerning reflexive from reciprocal pronouns.
Asicona Ramírez, Lucas, Domingo Méndez Rivera, Rodrigo Domingo Xinic Bop. 1998. Diccionario Ixil de San Gaspar Chajul. La Antigua Guatemala: Proyecto Linguistico Francisco Marroquín.
Cedillo Chel, Antonio, Juan Ramírez. 1999. Diccionario del idioma ixil de Santa María Nebaj. La Antigua Guatemala: Proyecto Linguistico Francisco Marroquín.
Programa de Rescate Cultural Maya-Ixil. 1995. Aq'b'al Elu'l Yol Vatzsaj: Diccionario Ixil. Guatemala City: Cholsamaj.
Ayers, Glenn Thompson. 1991. Gramática Ixil. La Antigua Guatemala: CIRMA.
Maximiliano Poma S., Tabita J.T. de la Cruz, Manuel Caba Caba et al. 1996. Gramática del Idioma Ixil. La Antigua Guatemala: Proyecto Linguistico Francisco Marroquín.
England, Nora C. 1994. Ukuta'miil Ramaq'iil Utzijob'aal ri Maya' Amaaq': Autonomia de los Idiomas Mayas: Historia e identidad. (2nd ed.). Guatemala City: Cholsamaj.
Oxlajuuj Keej Maya' Ajtz'iib' (OKMA). 1993. Maya' chii'. Los idiomas Mayas de Guatemala. Guatemala City: Cholsamaj.
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