Page Type: languageKaqchikel | Ethnologue

CAK ISO 639-3

Kaqchikel

Kaqchikel Autonym

A language of Guatemala

ISO 639
cak
Alternate Names
Cakchiquel, Kaqchiquel, Maya
Autonym
Kaqchikel
Population
411,000 (2019 census). Ethnic population: 1,070,000 (2019 census).
Location:
Baja Verapaz department: Granados municipality; Chimaltenango department: all municipalities; Escuintal department: Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa municipality; Guatemala department: Amatitlán, Chuarrancho, San Juan Sacatepéquez, San Pedro Ayampu, San Pedro Sacatepéquez, San Raymundo, and Villa Nueva municipalities; Sacatepéquez department: Alotenango, Jocotenango, Magdalena Milpas Altas, Pastores, San Antonio Aguas Calientes, San Bartolomé Milpas Altas, San Lucas Sacatepéquez, San Miguel Dueñas, Santa Catarina Barahona, Santa Lucía Milpas Altas, Santa María de Jesús, Santiago Sacatepéquea, Santo Domingo Xenacoj, and Sumpango municipalities; Sololá department: Concepción, Panajachel, San Andrés Semetab’äj, San Antonio Palopo, San José Chacaya’, San Juan La Laguna, San Lucas Tolimán, San Marcos La Laguna, Santa Catarina Palopo, and Santa Cruz La Laguna, and Sololá municipalities; Suchitepéquez department: Patulul, San Antonio Suchitepéquez, San Juan Bautista, and Santa Bárbara municipalities.
Language Status
6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19).
Classification
Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, K’ichean-Mamean, K’ichean, Poqom-K’ichean, Core K’ichean, Kaqchikel-Tz’utujil
Dialects
Acatenango Southwestern Cakchiquel, Eastern Cakchiquel, Northern Cakchiquel, Santa María de Jesús Cakchiquel (Kach’ab’al), Santo Domingo Xenacoj Cakchiquel, South Central Cakchiquel, Southern Cakchiquel, Western Cakchiquel, Yepocapa Southwestern Cakchiquel.
Typology
SVO.
Language Use
Some young people, all adults. Many parents are choosing to speak Spanish [spa] in the home to their children so that they start school with Spanish as a strong first language (2020 J. Maxwell). Also use Spanish [spa]. Used as L2 by K’iche’ [quc].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–39%. Standardized form of language taught in schools. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 2003. Agency: Academy of Mayan Languages.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kaqchikel
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Baja Verapaz department: Granados municipality; Chimaltenango department: all municipalities; Escuintal department: Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa municipality; Guatemala department: Amatitlán, Chuarrancho, San Juan Sacatepéquez, San Pedro Ayampu, San Pedro Sacatepéquez, San Raymundo, and Villa Nueva municipalities; Sacatepéquez department: Alotenango, Jocotenango, Magdalena Milpas Altas, Pastores, San Antonio Aguas Calientes, San Bartolomé Milpas Altas, San Lucas Sacatepéquez, San Miguel Dueñas, Santa Catarina Barahona, Santa Lucía Milpas Altas, Santa María de Jesús, Santiago Sacatepéquea, Santo Domingo Xenacoj, and Sumpango municipalities; Sololá department: Concepción, Panajachel, San Andrés Semetab’äj, San Antonio Palopo, San José Chacaya’, San Juan La Laguna, San Lucas Tolimán, San Marcos La Laguna, Santa Catarina Palopo, and Santa Cruz La Laguna, and Sololá municipalities; Suchitepéquez department: Patulul, San Antonio Suchitepéquez, San Juan Bautista, and Santa Bárbara municipalities.