Ixil Translation Services & Interpreters

Ixil is one of around 30 remaining Mayan languages that are spoken in Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize. There are currently estimated to be around 70,000 – 100,000 Ixil speakers, most of whom live in the highlands of Guatemala, and specifically in the Quiché department. It’s also spoken in some parts of Mexico, as well as areas of the United States with significant Guatemalan populations, such as Los Angeles, Houston, and Florida.

Five Interesting Facts about Ixil:

1. Ixil is an endangered language and under significant threat from Spanish – particularly among younger members of its communities. However, this status has resulted in fruitful preservation efforts, ensuring it continues to be utilized widely in the years to come.
2. A highly unusual feature of Ixil is its intricate verb system. While verbs in all languages are used to convey tense and action, in Ixil, verbs can also convey other information about their subject or object, such as the directionality of actions. For instance, an Ixil verb might express how an action is performed, such as whether it moves toward or away from the speaker – a highly uncommon linguistic feature!
3. For generations, the Ixil language has been used orally to pass down the myths, legends and stories that form this community’s collective memory.
4. Ixil did not have a standardized writing system until the 1980s. It is based on the Latin alphabet (like most Mayan languages. Today, Ixil is taught alongside Spanish in bilingual schools, so that children can learn, read and write in their mother tongue.
5. During the Guatemalan Civil War (1960 – 1996), the Ixil-speaking region was severely affected, and its community persecuted. Nevertheless, the Ixil people, their language and their culture have all proven resilient, by continuing to thrive.