Guatemala
The Languages spoken in Guatemala
Although Spanish is the official language of Guatemala and is the language of instruction in many schools, not all its citizens are fluent in the language. About 21 other languages, including Amerindian and Mayan, are spoken in the country. Garifuna and Xinca, for instance, are two ancestral languages kept alive by their own phonetic, grammatical and structural base. English, which is a medium of instruction in most colleges, comes as a second language spoken in all major tourist centers throughout the country.
Spanish as a course of study is offered in many local schools but a popular arrangement in the country for a student to better learn the language is through a Guatemalan family which helps a student practice the language and learn more about the country’s culture, customs and traditions. Another option to learn Spanish better is through the school with classes held weekly for those at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Most language schools practice the one-teacher-per-student system to ensure best individual training and make the student learn at his own pace.
The Amerindian languages consist of 23 officially recognized languages including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mani, Garifuna and Xinca. Kanjobal, which is the most conservative in the Mayan languages, is also spoken by some 77,000 native speakers and part of Mexico, a neighbor country in the north and west border.
A non-profit foundation named Proyecto Linguistico Francisco Marroquis has been formed not only to train linguists and teachers, but also primarily to preserve the native languages and promote cultural pride and Mayan identity. A Guatemalan Academy of Mayan Languages has also been established as part of the 1996 Peace Accords, to eventually become as the recognized authority on standardized orthography in the country.
