Chatino, Western Highland

CTP

developing

Alternate Names: Cha’t-An, Chatino Central, Chatino de la Zona Alta Occidental, Sierra Occidental Chatino

Dialects: Panixtlahuaca Chatino, San Juan Quiahije Chatino, Yaitepec Chatino. 71% intelligibility of Yaitepec dialect, 66% of Nopala ,, 46% of Zacatepec ,, 32% of Tataltepec ,; Yaitepec dialect has 80% intelligibility of Nopala, 78% of Panixtlahuaca dialect, 20% of Tataltepec.

Genealogy:

Otomanguean
Eastern Otomanguean
Popolocan-Zapotecan
Zapotecan
Chatino

Demographics: 16,000 (2000 INALI). 6,000 monolinguals (1990 census).

Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. Oral use in local administration, commerce, religious services, some in primary and secondary education. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng], Tataltepec Chatino [cta], Zenzontepec Chatino [czn].

Language Development: 500 readers, 50 can write. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1992.

Typology: VSO; short words, affixes, clitics; tonal.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Mexico

Other Comments: Some annual migration to work in coastal coffee growing areas. Traditional religion, Christian.