As the Ixil people increasingly migrate to the United States for safety, economic opportunities, and a better quality of life, language access is one of the biggest obstacles they face. This is where Ixil interpreters step in, helping migrants to integrate safely into their new surroundings.
For the Ixil, whose cultural and linguistic heritage has stood the test of time, interpreters play a major role in bridging the gap between their traditional ways of life and the challenges of modern migration.
This blog explores the Ixil language, why the Ixil are migrating, and the support interpreters can provide them as they settle in the United States.
Who speaks Ixil?
A language with approximately somewhere between 100,000 - 200,000 native speakers, Ixil is spoken by the Ixil people who primarily live in the Guatemalan cities of San Juan Cotzal, Santa María Nebaj, and San Gaspar Chajul, also known as the Ixil Triangle. There are also pockets of Ixil speakers in Mexico, specifically in Campeche and Quintana Roo, and in the United States.
Ixil belongs to the Mamean branch of the Mayan language family, and like all Mayan languages, it originates from the ancient Proto-Mayan language. Named after the towns where they are spoken, there are three primary variants of Ixil: Nebaj, Chajul, and San Juan Cotzal. Apart from some differences in vocabulary, the variants of each town are similar to each other to a certain extent, although they are sometimes not mutually intelligible. We recommend working with a professional agency that can help you navigate the nuances of Ixil variants and has ample resources in all variants to ensure your needs are met.
The Ixil people suffered a great deal during the period of Guatemala's genocidal campaign against Indigenous people, particularly in the early 1980s when former military dictator José Efraín Ríos Montt was in power.
Under Ríos Montt, the Guatemalan army launched a violent counterinsurgency campaign targeting resistance, led primarily by Ixil Mayans in the countryside. Indigenous populations, especially the Ixil, were targeted heavily. In the course of the campaign, a scorched earth policy was adopted, resulting in widespread death and destruction. Between 1981 and 1983, 70-90% of Ixil villages were destroyed, and an estimated 5.5% of the Ixil population was murdered. Homes, crops, and entire villages were destroyed, and millions of indigenous Mayans were displaced.
Many of the Ixil people, because of these atrocities, were forced to flee and seek refuge abroad in Mexico and in the United States. Owing to this, there are now substantial communities of Ixil Mayans living in the US, especially in areas like the Washington DC region.
Despite the horrors they faced during the Guatemalan government’s genocidal campaign, the Ixil people have remained resilient, continuing to celebrate their culture and traditions through festivals and ceremonies.
Ixil culture has virtually remained intact throughout history. Their homeland, located in the mountainous northern highlands of Guatemala, is remote and difficult to reach. This isolation, combined with a strong sense of cultural identity, has largely contributed to the survival of their culture and traditional way of life. Ixil remains the dominant language in its three main towns, and many Ixil do not speak Spanish, even centuries after Spanish colonization. It is also still common for Ixil women to wear traditional clothing called “corte” in a style specific to the Ixil.
Why are the Ixil migrating?
The Ixil Maya refer to the arrival of agricultural industries as the "fourth invasion," following Spanish colonization, the creation of the plantation economy in the 19th century, and state-sponsored genocide in Guatemala.
The term "four invasions" actively highlights the ongoing occupation of ancestral Indigenous territories by colonial powers. It also challenges the narrative that portrays the Maya as "conquered," and instead emphasizes their never-ending fight for justice and freedom.
Each invasion has involved land dispossession and violence against the Ixil. Under Spanish colonial rule, their ancestral lands were converted into fincas used primarily to cultivate European coffee. During the armed conflict, the state stole much of their land for military purposes. Today, multinational corporations exploit what remains, displacing the Ixil from their lands in the process.
During the 1980s, around 20,000 Ixil fled political persecution in Guatemala and sought refuge in the United States. Today, increasing street violence, severe poverty, and limited job opportunities have led many young Ixil migrants to flee Guatemala and join those already established communities here in the US.
The peace accords signed in 1996 promised justice and reconciliation, but those promises never materialized. Appropriation of Indigenous land and violence against Indigenous people are still regular occurrences in Guatemala. Although activists fight the exploitation of their land and for the rights of their communities, they often receive death threats for doing so and are eventually forced to migrate.
Centreville, Virginia is the largest hub for Ixil immigrants from Guatemala in the U.S., followed by Dover, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Roles And Importance Of Ixil Interpreters
Ixil interpreters help migrants to express themselves and understand the information they are given, allowing them to better advocate for themselves and make more informed decisions.
Interpreters act as trusted guides for Ixil migrants, guiding them through the complex U.S. immigration system, and helping them get access to medical, legal, and social services. In settings like doctor's appointments, immigration proceedings, and court hearings, qualified Ixil interpreters are indispensable.
Besides providing language assistance, interpreters are also integral to intercultural communication. Having an interpreter who understands both American and Ixil cultures can help make communication smoother and less stressful for both sides.
Because Ixil is a language of lower diffusion, finding an Ixil interpreter is not always easy. There are relatively few known Ixil interpreters in the U.S. and the shortage of certified professionals who can work with Ixil’s different variants makes it more challenging, especially when it comes to sensitive areas like legal, medical, and social services.
This lack of resources makes it difficult to meet the demand. Few universities offer formal Ixil language education, and there are no training programs for Ixil interpretation. Although the majority of Ixil speakers speak Spanish as a second language instead of English, these training programs are typically offered in English. Overall, there are many barriers for Ixil speakers to become interpreters.
Work With An Ixil Interpreter from Maya Bridge
At Maya Bridge, we offer language services for Ixil and all its variants to provide your organization with comprehensive linguistic support. Since 2021, we have provided Ixil to English interpretation to countless government agencies, healthcare organizations, and courts. With our dedicated focus to non-dominant and lower-diffusion languages like Ixil, we have fostered a large network of many Ixil linguists of all variants, and thus we are uniquely equipped to offer on-demand Ixil interpretation in any variant, 24 hours a day.
We offer:
Video Remote Ixil Interpretation
Over-the-phone Ixil Interpretation
In-person Ixil Interpretation
Court-certified Ixil Interpretation
Medical-certified Ixil Interpretation
Ixil Translation
Ixil Voiceover and Subtitles
Learn more about our language services here.
Maya Bridge - A Leading Advocate For Latin American Indigenous Language Access In The U.S.
Since 2021, Maya Bridge Language Services has been advocating for increased access for speakers of Mayan and other Latin American and global indigenous languages here in the United States. Maya Bridge is a mission-driven, niche interpretation agency offering 24/7 on-demand services for over 80 Indigenous languages from Latin America, as well as African, Asian, Pacific Island, Native American, and other Indigenous languages.
We have worked diligently to mobilize, train, and evaluate a network of hundreds of interpreters both in the U.S. and throughout the world to ensure that speakers of Indigenous languages can fully understand and be understood in important situations like healthcare, legal settings, in disaster and emergency response scenarios, and in receiving access to government programs.
Contact us to schedule a meeting or call us anytime, day or night, at (801) 753-8568.
