Zapotec

There are about 60 Zapotecan languages spoken in Mexico. They are part of the Oto-Manguean family of languages and there is mutual intelligibility between some of them. About half a million people speak these languages in southern Mexico, especially in the states of Oaxaca, Puebla, and Guerrero, and they can be divided into four groups: Northern Zapotec (Zapoteco de la Sierra Norte), Valley Zapotec, Southern Zapotec (Zapoteco de la Sierra Sur), and Isthmus Zapotec.

Names of varieties of Zapotec include Diidxazá in Juchitán (Isthmus of Tehuantepec), Didxsajin in Mitla, Diža'xon in Zoogocho, and Tiits Së in Santa Catarina Quioquitani.

Between 500 BC and 1000 AD an ancient form of Zapotec was written with a logophonetic script somewhat similar to Mayan.

Isthmus Zapotec (Diidxazá) alphabet and pronunciation

Source: http://www.native-languages.org/zapotec_guide.htm

Sample texts

Zapotec (Güilá)

Ra'ta ra bu:unny ra:aaly liebr cëhnn te'bloh deree'ch cëhnn dignidaa. Ra:alyne:erih gahll ri:e:eny cëhnn saalyb, chiru' na:a pahr ga:annza'crih loh sa'rih.

Zapotec, Miahuatlán

Diti mien ndied xa yent kuan nkie xa nak rieti xa diba xa rola.

Translation

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)

Sample videos in and about Zapotec

Links

Information about Zapotec languages
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapotec_languages
http://www.sil.org/mexico/zapoteca/00i-Zapoteca.htm

Zapotec Pronunciation and Spelling Guide
http://www.native-languages.org/zapotec_guide.htm

Yatzachi Zapotec dictionary
http://www.sil.org/mexico/zapoteca/yatzachi/S037a-Diccionario-zav.htm

Conjugation types of Zapotec verbs (Yalálag Zapotec)
http://www.sil.org/mexico/zapoteca/yalalag/g033-conjugverbozap-zpu.htm

Oto-Manguean languages

Acazulco Otomi, Chinanteco, Chatino, Chicahuaxtla Triqui, Chiquihuitlán Mazatec, Coatzospan Mixtec, Copala Triqui, Jalapa Mazatec, Mazahua, Mazatec, Mixtec, Otomi, San Martín Itunyoso Triqui, Santo Domingo del Estero Triqui, Sierra Otomi, Temoaya Otomi, Tlapanec, Zapotec

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 23.04.21

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