Mayan languages

Page 9 of the Dresden Codex showing the classic Mayan language written in Mayan hieroglyphs (from the 1880 Förstermann edition)

The Mayan languages ares a group of languages spoken in Central America and Mesoamerica.^[1]

Mayan languages are spoken by at least 6 million native Maya. Most of them are in Guatemala, Mexico or Belize. In 1996, Guatemala formally recognized 21 Mayan languages by name,^[2] and Mexico recognises eight others.

The Mayan languages are some of the best documented and most studied in the Americas.^[3] Modern Mayan languages come from Proto-Mayan, a language that was probably spoken at least 5000 years ago. It has been partly reconstructed.

Mayan Languages Media

Approximate migration routes and dates for various Mayan language families. The region shown as Proto-Mayan is now occupied by speakers of the Qʼanjobalan branch (light blue in other figures).
Classic period Maya glyphs in stucco at the Museo de sitio in Palenque, Mexico
Genealogy of Mayan languages.
The area where Yucatec Maya is spoken in the peninsula of YucatánTemplate:Imagefact
Yucatec Maya writing in the Dresden Codex, ca. 11–12th century, Chichen Itza
Dinner menu in Kaqchikel, Antigua, Guatemala
Trilingual text in Calakmul: Spanish, Mayan and English

References

↑ In linguistics, it is usual to use Mayan when talking about the language
↑ Spence, Jack; David R. Dye, Paula Worby, Carmen Rosa de Leon-Escribano, George Vickers, and Mike Lanchin (1988). "Promise and Reality: Implementation of the Guatemalan Peace Accords". Hemispheres Initiatives. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2006-12-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
↑ Campbell, Lyle (1997). American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America (Oxford Studies in Anthropological Linguistics, 4). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-195-09427-1. p.165.

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[1] In linguistics, it is usual to use Mayan when talking about the language

[2] Spence, Jack; David R. Dye, Paula Worby, Carmen Rosa de Leon-Escribano, George Vickers, and Mike Lanchin (1988). "Promise and Reality: Implementation of the Guatemalan Peace Accords". Hemispheres Initiatives. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2006-12-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[3] Campbell, Lyle (1997). American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America (Oxford Studies in Anthropological Linguistics, 4). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-195-09427-1. p.165.

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