As the Q'anjob'al people increasingly migrate to the United States for safety, economic opportunities, and a better quality of life, language access is one of their biggest obstacles. This is where Q'anjob'al interpreters step in and help migrants safely integrate into their new surroundings.
For the Q'anjob'al, 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 Q'anjob'al language, why the Q'anjob'al are migrating, and the support interpreters can provide as they settle in the United States.
Who speaks Q'anjob'al?
Q'anjob'al (pronounced Kan-ho-ball) originates from the western Highlands of Guatemala, and has an estimated 100,000 - 200,000 speakers. While most speakers of Q’anjob’al reside in the Huehuetenango region of Guatemala, many also live in Mexico and in the United States.
Q'anjob'al belongs to the Q'anjob'alan branch of the Mayan language family and is the parent language for other Q'anjob'alan languages, such as Chuj, Akateko, and Popti', also known as Jakalteko.
There isn't a clear consensus, but some believe the name "Q'anjob'al" originated from "Q’an," meaning yellow or gold, and the suffix "-job’al," which may mean "one who harvests." This translation has led some to suggest that the Q’anjob’al people were once associated with great wealth, particularly in gold.
The variants of Q'anjob'al are typically predominantly mutually intelligible, however regional variations do exist in pronunciation, vocabulary, and usage, indicating subtle nuances in the way Q'anjob'al is spoken in different areas.
The Q'anjob'al people were one of the Indigenous groups targeted by the Guatemalan government during its genocide against Indigenous people in the early 1980s. Over this period, the Guatemalan military conducted a brutal scorched-earth campaign that included massacres and the destruction of Q'anjob'al villages.
As with many Mayan cultures, the Q'anjob'al economy is heavily dependent on agriculture. They grow cash crops like maize, beans, and squash on milpa plots. For those without access to land, opportunities outside of agriculture are limited, and they usually have to migrate to find work. Women primarily earn income by weaving, using a backstrap loom to create traditional clothing, particularly traditional blouses also known as huipil. Traditional Mayan clothing differs slightly from region to region, particularly amongst different Mayan groups, often making it somewhat clear what region a person may hail from. This clothing serves, so to speak, as both an expression of cultural identity and as a commercial product. Typically women may more often wear traditional Mayan clothing on a daily basis, while it is less common for men to wear traditional clothing daily.
Why are the Q'anjob'al migrating?
The Q'anjob'al from Guatemala are migrating for a variety of historical, environmental, and socioeconomic factors. Some of the main reasons are extreme poverty, insufficient work opportunities, land theft, the impact of adverse environmental conditions on their crops, and forced displacement.
A high rate of unemployment and underemployment, particularly among youth, forces many Q’anjob’al to go abroad in search of work. Land inequality in Guatemala has worsened as industrial agriculture pushes small-scale farmers out, eliminating their primary source of income. This combined with climate change, which disrupts agricultural cycles and causes frequent droughts, has led to an increase in food insecurity. Unsafe living conditions are also a driving force for migration as organized crime, corruption, and weak governance have all contributed to violence and insecurity in their communities.
Indigenous communities, especially Indigenous women, in Guatemala continue to face substantial inequalities in health, education, employment, and income. The underlying cause of these inequalities is deep-rooted structural racism, an issue that has limited their access to opportunities and basic rights for decades.
There are large Q’anjob’al communities that exist in the US, particularly in Nebraska and other parts of the Midwest and in the South.
The Roles And Importance Of Q'anjob'al Interpreters
Q'anjob'al 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 Q'anjob'al 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 Q'anjob'al interpreters are indispensable.
Besides providing language assistance, interpreters are also integral to intercultural communication. Having an interpreter who understands both American and Q'anjob'al cultures can help make communication smoother and less stressful for both sides.
Finding a Q'anjob'al interpreter in the U.S. may be difficult for several reasons. To begin with, the number of Q'anjob'al speakers is relatively small compared with some of the other Mayan languages. While there may be some individuals that can be found online, most of those are extremely busy. It can also be difficult securing an interpreter who has the necessary experience and training to assist with legal matter or medical appointments.
Work With A Q'anjob'al Interpreter from Maya Bridge
At Maya Bridge, we offer language services for Q'anjob'al to provide your organization with comprehensive linguistic support. Since 2021, we have provided Q'anjob'al to English interpretation to government agencies, healthcare organizations, and courts. As a small, niche interpretation agency specializing in Latin American Indigenous languages, we are uniquely equipped to offer on-demand Q'anjob'al interpretation, 24 hours a day.
We offer:
Video Remote Q'anjob'al Interpretation
Over-the-phone Q'anjob'al Interpretation
In-person Q'anjob'al Interpretation
Court-certified Q'anjob'al Interpretation
Medical-certified Q'anjob'al Interpretation
Q'anjob'al Translation
Q'anjob'al 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 60 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.
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