Full Description
An advanced Kaqchikel textbook that blends language learning with Maya culture.
About half a million Maya in the highlands of Guatemala speak Kaqchikel, making it one of the most widely used Mayan languages. Kik'aslemal ri Kaqchikela' offers guidance for advanced students. Unlike many language textbooks, it is designed with not only fluency but also cultural competency in mind.
Inspired by conversations with native speakers, Kaqchikel teachers, and anthropologists focused on Maya communities, Kik'aslemal ri Kaqchikela' supports language learning through readings on topics important to speakers in Guatemala, including Maya' Nimab'äl K'u'x (Maya cosmology); Ri Tiko'n (agriculture); Yab'il rik'in Aq'om (disease and medicine); Samaj pa Jay, pa Tinamït (work at home and in town); and more. Chapters present readings on each theme, alongside worksheets, discussion questions framed around Maya history and culture, and a contextualizing essay in English. A Kaqchikel/Spanish/English glossary, extensive grammar appendix, and English translations of the readings support learning. The result is not the usual explanation of language mechanics but instead a nuanced lesson in communication across porous boundaries of cultural difference.
Contents
Introduction
Choltzij richin kib'i tinamÏt
Chapter 1. Nimab'Äl K'u'x Maya' (Maya cosmology)
Essay: Maya Spiritual Participation in Guatemala
Language Lessons
Jun. Cholq'ij (The 260-day calendar)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Ri rusamajixik ri Cholq'ij
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri loq'olÄj Nimab'Äl K'u'x Maya'
Ka'i'. Taq kotz'i'j (Ceremonies)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Ri samajib'Äl richin taq kotz'i'j
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ronojel richin jun jeb'Ël xukulem
Sidebar: Rutzijol ri xukulem (Explanation of ceremonies)
Oxi'. Kisamaj ri ajq'ija' (Daykeepers' work)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Ri loqolÄj rusamaj ri ajq'ij
Sidebar: Kik'exel ri loq'olÄj taq q'ij (Signs of the days in the Holy Calendar)
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Kisamaj ri ajq'ija'
Kaji'. Kina'oj ri aj Katolika' (Catholicism in Maya thought)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Kina'oj ri aj Katolika' Pa Pwaqil
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri kaxlan nimab'Äl k'u'x
Wo'o'. Kina'oj ri aj Ewanjeliko'i' (Protestantism in Maya thought)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Nimab'Äl k'u'x kichin Ewanjeliko'i'
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Xe'oqa na ri Ewanjeliko'i'
Chapter 2. Ri tiko'n (Agriculture)
Essay: Planting and Eating: From the Field to the Table
Language Lessons
Jun. Ri ixim, ri awÄn (Maize and milpa)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Rejqalem ri ixim
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Loq'olÄj xim
Sidebar: Kik'iyik wachinÄq (Growth stages)
Ka'i'. Ri k'ak'a' tiko'n (Nontraditional agriculture)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Ri k'ak'a' tiko'n
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri Ütz chuqa ri itzel rik'in ri k'ak'a' tiko'n
Oxi'. TikonÏk (Planting)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Jun ala' niretamaj ri tikoj pa juyu'
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri tiko'n ixim
Kaji'. Jach'onÏk jÄl (Corn harvest)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Ri rajawal juyu'
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri jach'on jÄl
Sidebar: Ri rub'onil ri jÄl (The colors of corn)
Wo'o'. B'anon q'utu'n chuqa ri wa'in (Food preparation and eating)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Jun jeb'Ël tzijonem pa ruwi' ri q'utu'n pa ri nimaq'ij
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Achike nikitÏj ri winaqi' pa jun tinamÏt
Sidebar: Ri Ütz chuqa itzel taq ruxla' pa Kaqchikel (Good and bad smells in Kaqchikel)
Chapter 3. Banob'Äl (Handicrafts)
Essay: Maya Handicraft Production in the Global Economy
Language Lessons
Jun. Rub'anik pop pa Santiago Zamora (Making mats in Santiago Zamora)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Jun ch'utin tijonÏk pa ruwi rub'anik pop
Kojsik'in (Let's read): K'atzinel jun xupub'Äl
Ka'i'. Rub'anik chakÄch ke la Pwaqil (Making baskets in San Jose Poaqil)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Achike roma k'ayew rub'anik chakÄch?
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri chakÄch chupam ri Maya' k'aslemal
Oxi'. Rub'anoj b'uk'Üt, xajab' Pa Ajyuq' (Making shoes and sandals in Pastores)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Loq'onÏk pa jun k'ayb'Äl Pa Ajyuq'
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Retamab'al ri ajb'ukÜt
Kaji'. Rub'anik b'ojo'y pa San Juan SacatepÉquez (Making pottery in San Juan SacatepÉquez)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Ajb'anÖy b'ojo'y
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Samaj richin ri b'ojo'y
Wo'o'. Rub'anik xik'awuj pa Pa K'im (Making kites in Santiago SacatÉpequez)
Sidebar: Etamab'Äl pa ruwi' ri xik'awuj (Knowledge about kites)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Ch'akonÏk chrij ri xik'awuj
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri loq'olÄj sipanÏk xik'awuj
Chapter 4. KamulunÏk: Ri k'ayb'Äl (The market)
Chapter 5. Samaj pa jay, pa tinamÏt (Work at home and in the town)
Essay: Mayas' Work in Contemporary Guatemala
Language Lessons
Jun. B'anonÏk jay, ojer chuqa wakamÏn (House-building in the past and present)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Xtb'an jun jay pa Pan Ajache'l
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ojer rub'anikil jay pa Junajpu
Ka'i'. Ri t'isonel. Ri ajkem (The seamstress. The weaver)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Ajt'ison
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri samaj ajkem wakamÏn chuqa ojer kan
Sidebar: Kab'anoj richin b'atz'inÏk chuqa t'isoj (Transitive verbs for spinning and sewing)
Sidebar: Ri che' richin ri (The weaving sticks)
Sidebar: Ixoqi' aj AFEDES (The women of AFEDES)
Oxi'. Ri taq samaj pa b'ey (Street work)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Ri winaqi' chi yesamÄj pa b'ey
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Jun samajel pa ri b'ey pa Pan Ajache'l
Kaji'. Ri sokanel. Ri t'isonel (The barber. The tailor)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Ri sokanel wi'aj
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Jun tikonel aj B'oko' chi xretzetÄj ruwex
Wo'o'. Ri samaj chupam ri champomal (Work in the government)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Jun k'ayewal ruk'in ri potz'
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Eleq' chupam ri k'ayb'Äl
Sidebar: Maya' rochoch q'atb'Äl tzij (AlcaldÍa indÍgena)
Chapter 6. Champomali' (Transnational and national politics)
Essay: Kaqchikel Life in the Postwar Period
Language Lessons
Jun. Q'axawinaqi' (Migration)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Achike roma jun winÄq nib'e pa Pa JotÖl
Kojsik'in (Let's read): ElenÏk pa taq tinamÏt
Ka'i'. K'ayewal pa taq tinamÏt (Violence in communities)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Eleq'oma' pa tinamÏt
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri k'ayewal kik'in ri itzel taq moloj
Oxi'. Keleq'axik ak'wala' (Stealing children)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk). Achike roma nik'atzin kichajixik ri ak'wala'
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri nimalÄj mama'aj nuya' rutzij pa ruwi' jun mo's
Kaji'. Ri raxkeja' chuqa ri aj pa q'ayÏs (Army and guerrillas)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Rax kij chuqa aj pa q'ayÏs
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Jun tijonel xok aj pa q'ayÏs
Wo'o'. Ri k'aslemal chrij ri Nuk'ulem chi rij Kib'anikil, chuqa Kich'ojib'al ri Achamaq'i' (Life after the Peace Accords)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Ruk'atz ri Ruximik Uxlanib'Äl K'u'x
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Rujuxik ri Rujunumaxik Uxlanib'Äl K'u'x
Sidebar: Nimab'Äl K'u'x Maya', ri champomal, ri ajq'ija' (Maya Spirituality, the national government, and the daykeepers)
Chapter 7. Yab'il rik'in aq'om (Disease and medicine)
Essay: Kaqchikel Healing: Approaches to Individual and Community Well-Being
Language Lessons
Jun. Ri rusamaj ri aq'omanel (A doctor's work)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Rusamaj ri aq'omanel
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri nimalÄj rusamaj ri Aq'omanel Raxq'ij
Ka'i'. Ri rusamaj ri iyom, k'exelom (A midwife's work)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Ka'i' ixoqi' k'exeloma' yetzijon pa ruwi' kisamaj
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri kikotemal roma ralaxik jun ti ne'y
Sidebar: Kirayib'al yawa' ixoqi' (Pregnant women's cravings)
Oxi'. Kisamaj ri ajq'ija' pa ruwi' ri aq'om (Daykeepers' work with medicine [revisited])
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Achike ruma Jun B'atz xukanuj ri ajq'ij tÖq xukÜl yab'il
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri rukusaxik ri q'ayÏs aq'om
Kaji'. Yab'il. Ri aq'om, q'ayÏs chuqa kaxlan (Disease and medicine, herbal and chemical)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Ri k'ayewal kik'in ri taq xane'
Sidebar: Choy Quinizilapa (Lake Quinizilapa)
Kojsik'in (Let's read): Ri itzel yab'il rub'ini'an jÏq' ojÖb'
Sidebar: Q'eqalÄj jÏq' ojÖb' (COVID)
Wo'o'. KamÏk (Death)
Kojtzijon (Let's talk): Jun, ka'i', oxi' na' oj chrij ri kamÏk
Kojsik'in (Let's read): E tik'asÄs koma kach'alal kaminaqi'
Chapter 8. KamulunÏk: Ri ik' (The moon)
Taq tz'aq'atb'Äl (Appendixes)
Appendix A. CholtzÏj (Glossary): Kaqchikel-Spanish-English
Appendix B. Kemchi' (Grammar)
Appendix C. Translations of Readings
Pa Ruwi' ri Tz'ib'anela' (About the Authors)
