Tzeltal
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A language of Mexico
Alternate Names
Cancuc, Chanal, Highland Tzeltal, Oxchuc Tzeltal, Tenango, Tenejapa, Tenejapa Tzeltal, Tseltal
Autonym
Bats’il k’op
User Population
589,000 (2020 INEGI). 50,000 monolinguals.
Location
Chiapas: Oxchuc area.
Language Maps
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Dialects
Amatenango del Valle, Bachajon Tzeltal (Lowland Tzeltal, Tzeltal de Ocosingo), Chanal Cancuc, Tenango, Tzeltal del Norte, Tzeltal del occidente, Tzeltal del oriente, Tzeltal del Sur.
Typology
VOS.
Language Use
Vigorous. Some Tzotzil also speak Tzeltal. Some families now use Spanish [spa]. Some Ch’ol [ctu] in north border area and lowland learned Tzeltal. All domains. Oral use in administration, commerce, some oral and written use in education, religion. Minimal use in government schools. Used by all. Positive attitudes. A few also use Tojolabal [toj]. Also use Chol [ctu]. Also use Spanish [spa].
Language Development
50,000 readers, 40,000 can write. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Bible: 2002.
Christian.