Mam

MAM

educational

Alternate Names: Huehuetenango Mam

Dialects: Central Mam (Comitancillo Mam, Mam Marquense, Mam Occidental, San Marcos Comitancillas Mam, Western Mam), Southern Mam (Mam Quetzalteco, Ostuncalco Mam, Quetzaltenango Mam, San Juan Ostuncalco Mam), Tacanec (Mamé, Tacaná Mam, Tiló, Western Mam), Tajumulco Mam, Todos Santos Cuchumatán Mam (Todos Santos Mam). Tacanec is the most distinctive of all the Mam varieties. Lexical similarity: 77% between Tajumulco and Comitancillo dialects.

Genealogy:

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

Demographics: 530,000 in Guatemala (1991–2000). Population total all countries: 537,980.

Language Use: Positive attitudes. Also use Spanish [spa]. Used as L2 by K’iche’ [quc].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–37%. Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1993.

Typology: VSO.

Spoken In: Guatemala

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Guatemala