Understanding the Kanjobal Language & Providing Professional Kanjobal Interpreters and Translators
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Q'anjob'al (also Kanjobal) is a Mayan language spoken primarily in Guatemala and part of Mexico. According to 1998 estimates compiled by SIL International in Ethnologue, there were approximately 77,700 native speakers, primarily in the Huehuetenango Department of Guatemala. Q'anjob'al is a member of the Q’anjob’Alan branch of the Mayan language family. The Mayan language family includes 31 languages, two of which are now extinct. The Q'anjob'alan branch includes not only Q'anjob'al itself but also Chuj, Akatek, and Jakaltek, also spoken in Guatemala. The Q’anjob’Alan languages are noted for being among the most conservative of the Mayan language family, although they do include some interesting innovations.
As in all Mayan languages, Q'anjob'al classifies all verbs as either inherently intransitive (calling up only one argument) or as inherently transitive (calling up two arguments). Q'anjob'al is an ergative-absolutive language, in which the subject, of a transitive verb takes an ergative affix, while the subject of an intransitive verb, as well as the object of a transitive verb, take an absolutive affix. Ergative affixes are also used for possession. There are two sets of affixes for ergative. The first set is used for those verbal roots beginning with a consonant, and the second set is used for those beginning with a vowel. However, there is only one set of absolutive affixes with two variations: pronounced like free words or attached to something else.
Q'anjob'al consists of groups of roots that can take affixes. Words are traditionally classified as nouns, adjectives, adverbs, intransitive and transitive verbs, particles, and positional. Positionals are a group of roots which cannot function as words on their own; in combination with affixes they are used to describe relationships of position and location. Particles are words that do not take affixes; they mostly function in adverbial roles, and include such things as interrogative particles, affirmative/negative words, markers of time and location, conjunctions, prepositions and demonstratives.
Q'anjob'al (also Kanjobal) is a Mayan language spoken primarily in Guatemala and part of Mexico. According to 1998 estimates compiled by SIL International in Ethnologue, there were approximately 77,700 native speakers, primarily in the Huehuetenango Department of Guatemala. Q'anjob'al is a member of the Q’anjob’Alan branch of the Mayan language family. The Mayan language family includes 31 languages, two of which are now extinct. The Q'anjob'alan branch includes not only Q'anjob'al itself but also Chuj, Akatek, and Jakaltek, also spoken in Guatemala. The Q’anjob’Alan languages are noted for being among the most conservative of the Mayan language family, although they do include some interesting innovations.
As in all Mayan languages, Q'anjob'al classifies all verbs as either inherently intransitive (calling up only one argument) or as inherently transitive (calling up two arguments). Q'anjob'al is an ergative-absolutive language, in which the subject, of a transitive verb takes an ergative affix, while the subject of an intransitive verb, as well as the object of a transitive verb, take an absolutive affix. Ergative affixes are also used for possession. There are two sets of affixes for ergative. The first set is used for those verbal roots beginning with a consonant, and the second set is used for those beginning with a vowel. However, there is only one set of absolutive affixes with two variations: pronounced like free words or attached to something else.
Q'anjob'al consists of groups of roots that can take affixes. Words are traditionally classified as nouns, adjectives, adverbs, intransitive and transitive verbs, particles, and positional. Positionals are a group of roots which cannot function as words on their own; in combination with affixes they are used to describe relationships of position and location. Particles are words that do not take affixes; they mostly function in adverbial roles, and include such things as interrogative particles, affirmative/negative words, markers of time and location, conjunctions, prepositions and demonstratives.
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The Kanjobal language is an important language worldwide. It is vital to understand the general nature and specific idiosyncrasies of Kanjobal. For over 10 years Global Interpreting has provided outstanding Kanjobal translators, over the phone, face to face and conference interpreters nation and worldwide.