Mocho’ (qatô:k)

Mocho’ is a Qʼanjobalan–Mocho’ean Mayan language spoken in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico by about 130 people, mainly in the villages of Tuzatlán and Motozintla de Mendoza in eastern Chiapas near the border with Guatemala. The speakers of Mocho’ are all older adults, and the language is no longer being passed on to children.

Mocho’ is also known as Mocho, Mocho’ Maya or Qatoʼk. There are two dialects of Mocho’: the Tuzantec dialect in Tuzantán, and the Motozintlec dialect in Motozintla de Mendoza.

Mocho’ is rarely written, but there are various ways to write it with the Latin alphabet

Mocho’ alphabet

Notes

Long vowels are also written with a colon (a:) or mid dot (a·)
Short vowels have a level or rising tone
Stressed long vowels have a falling tone
Other long vowels have a rising or high level tone
Stress falls on the final syllable
The glottal stop is also written '

Download an alphabet chart for Mocho’ (Excel)

Sample text

Naba kiwalatawet juune' bwelta
Ji'a chrt pero mu chila.
Ja'e xchet mu jani cheet jum.
Yan'an ju'l pero mu ji'a choq
Ti' bowital ni kawitsa ke jani

Translation (Spanish)

¡A que no adivinas, niño!
Si vas a cortar leña,
un cochino muy flojo,
te buscará en el camino.
El avispero.

Source: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioma_moch%C3%B3#Texto_muestra

Translation (English)

Don't you guess, kid!
If you are going to cut firewood,
a very lazy pig,
it will look for you on the way.
The hornet's nest.

Videos in and about Mocho’

Links

Information about Mocho’
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mocho’’_language
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioma_mochó
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mhc
http://www.native-languages.org/mocho.htm

Mayan languages

Achi, Akatek, Awakatek, Chontal Maya, Ch’ol, Chorti, Chuj, Huasteco, Itzaʼ, Ixil, Jakaltek, Kaqchikel, Ki'che', Lacandon, Mam, Mocho’, Mopan, Poqomam, Poqomchiʼ, Q’anjob’al, Q'eqchi', Sakapultek, Sipakapense, Tektitek, Tojolabal, Tzeltal, Tzotzil, Tz'utujil, Uspantek, Yucatec Maya

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page created: 03.12.21. Last modified: 07.08.24

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