Zapotec, Mitla

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A language of Mexico

ISO 639-3
zaw
Alternate Names
Dichsah, Dixdà, East Central Tlacolula Zapotec, East Valley Zapotec, Zapoteco de Valles del Este Medio, Zapoteco de Valles del Noreste
Autonym
Didxsaj
User Population

19,500 (1983 SIL). Total Zapotec speakers: 491,000 (2020 INEGI). 190 monolinguals.

Location

Oaxaca state: Mitla valley.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Otomanguean, Eastern Otomanguean, Popolocan-Zapotecan, Zapotecan, Zapotec
Dialects

Santiago Matatlán Zapotec (Matatlán Zapotec). 75% intelligibility of Western Tlacolula Valley [zab] (most similar). A member of macrolanguage Zapotec [zap].

Typology

SVO or VSO; short and long words, clitics and affixes; tonal.

Language Use

Vigorous in some families. Shifting to Spanish [spa]. All domains among most adults. Oral use in local administration, commerce, some in media, in religious services. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Some also use English [eng]. Also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 40%. Literacy rate in L2: 80%–90%. 10% can write it. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 2009.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Zapotec, Mitla
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.