Q’eqchi’

KEK

educational

Alternate Names: Cacche’, Kekchi’, Kekchí, Ketchi’, Quecchi’

Dialects: Alta Verapaz Cobán. Only slight dialect differences.

Genealogy:

Mayan
Yucatecan-Core Mayan
K’ichean-Mamean
K’ichean

Demographics: 800,000 in Guatemala (2009 SIL), increasing. Population total all countries: 823,500.

Language Use: All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Spanish [spa]. Used as L2 by K’iche’ [quc], Poqomchi’ [poh].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 10%–30%. Literacy rate in L2: 22%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Poetry. Radio programs. Films. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1988–2001.

Typology: VOS; negatives before verb; verbal affixation marks person and gender, passives and voice; 19 consonant and 15 vowel phonemes; nontonal.

Spoken In: Guatemala

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Guatemala

Other Comments: Traditional religion, Christian.