Yucatec Maya is a Mayan language spoken by about 887,520 people mainly in Mexico. It is spoken particularly in Yucatan in Mexico, and also in parts of Campeche, Tabasco, Chiapas, and Quintana Roo states in Mexico, in the Cayo district in northern Belize, and in San Francisco, California in the USA.
A form of proto-Yucatecan was written with the Mayan script from about the 3rd century BC, and the Yucatec Maya speakers continued to use the script until the 16th century. Recently some Yucatecs have started learning and using the script once more.
After the Spanish conquest of Yucatan in the 16th century, a version of the Latin alphabet based on Spanish orthography of that time was developed to write Yucatec Maya. A new orthography, which is used in textbooks and offical documents, was developed by linguists of the Academia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala (ALMG) in 1984. A number of dictionaries in Yucatec Maya have been published, the first of which, by Juan Pio Perez, appeared in 1898.
A number of radio stations in Mexico broadcast programmes in Yucatec Maya.
Download an alphabet chart for Yucatec Maya (Excel)
Tuláakal wíinik ku síijil jáalk'ab yetel keet u tsiikul yetel Najmal Sijnalil, beytun xan na'ata'an sijnalil yetel no'oja'anil u tuukulo', k'a'abet u bisikuba bey láaktzilil yetel tuláakal u baatzile'.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Information about Yucatec Maya | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel | Books about Mayan on: Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk [affilate links]
Information about Yucatec Maya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucatec_Maya_language
http://www.native-languages.org/maya_guide.htm
A Brief Introduction to Yucatec Maya
http://www.mostlymaya.com/yucatec_maya_intro_.htm
Yucatec Maya phrases
http://www.mostlymaya.com/yucatec_maya_intro_.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tum7UWov0rI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucatec_Maya_language
http://www.yucatanliving.com/culture/mayan-language-for-beginners-2.htm
A Basic English - Yucatec Mayan Dictionary
http://www.mostlymaya.com/EnglishMayan.html
Yucatán: Identidad y Cultura Maya
http://www.uady.mx/sitios/mayas/
Na'atik, Instituto de Lenguas y Culturas - courses in Spanish and Yucatec Maya in Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo, Mexico: http://www.naatikmexico.com
Achi, Akatek, Awakatek, Chontal Maya, Ch’ol, Chorti, Chuj, Huasteco, Itzaʼ, Ixil, Jakaltek, Kaqchikel, Ki'che', Lacandon, Mam, Mocho’, Mopan, Poqomam, Poqomchiʼ, Q’anjob’al, Q'eqchi', Sakapultek, Sipakapense, Tektitek, Tojolabal, Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Tz'utujil, Uspantek, Yucatec Maya
Page last modified: 01.11.23
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