Chinantec, Sochiapam

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A language of Mexico

ISO 639-3
cso
Alternate Names
Chinanteco del Oeste, Sochiapan Chinantec
Autonym
Jaú jm_, Jmiih kia’ dzä jii’
User Population

3,590 (2000 INALI). Total Chinantec speakers: 144,000 (2020 INEGI). 730 monolinguals (1990 census). Ethnic population: 6,300.

Location

Oaxaca state: Cuicatlán, Retumbadero, San Juan Zapotitlán, San Juan Zautla, San Pedro Sochiapan and Santiago Quetzalapa.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Otomanguean, Western Otomanguean, Oto-Pame-Chinantecan, Chinantecan
Dialects

None known. 66% intelligibility of Tlacoatzintepec [ctl] (most similar), 56% of Chiltepec [csa], 45% of Usila [cuc], 11% of Tepetotutla [cnt].

Typology

VSO; short words, affixes, clitics; tonal.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. A few also use English [eng].

Language Development

20% can read, 10% can write–all in San Pedro Sochiapam. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 1986.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chinantec, Sochiapam
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Self-name is tsá2 há2lí13–people (where) wild flowers (grow). Transients go to Mexico City to work as maids, gardeners, or laborers, but the majority return and settle down in the villages. Christian, traditional religion.