As the Tz'utujil 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 Tz'utujil interpreters step in and help migrants integrate safely into their new surroundings.
For the Tz'utujil, 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 Tz'utujil language, why the Tz'utujil are migrating, and the support interpreters can provide them as they settle in the United States.
Who speaks Tz'utujil?
The Tz'utujil language is spoken by approximately 100,000 people in the highlands around Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. Closely related to Kaqchikel and K’iche, Tz’utujil belongs to the K’ichean branch of the Mayan language family. It has two known variants: Eastern and Western Tz’utujil.
When the Spanish arrived in Guatemala in the mid-1520s, the Tz’utujil resisted fiercely. However, the invaders’ advanced weaponry and the introduction of European diseases eventually nearly wiped out the Tz’utujil population. In the late 1500s, Franciscan missionaries resettled many Tz'utujil in Santiago Atitlán, which remains an important Tz'utujil city to this day.
On December 2, 1990, the Guatemalan Army opened fire on a group of peaceful, unarmed Tz'utujil protesters in Santiago Atitlán, killing 13 and injuring 21. Following widespread national and international pressure, the army abandoned its base two weeks later. Santiago Atitlán became the first community of over 10,000 inhabitants to successfully expel military forces, and they did so without resorting to violence. It is now a "military-free zone."
While most highland Maya communities suffered substantial cultural loss during the Spanish conquest, the Tz'utujil have fortunately been able to preserve much of their ancestral culture, maintaining rich traditions in music, art, and spiritual practices.
San Juan La Laguna on Lake Atitlán is now home to a thriving Tz'utujil artistic community. Local artists have embraced the Arte Naif style to showcase their culture, with their work recognized in the UNESCO-sponsored book Arte Naif: Contemporary Guatemalan Mayan Painting. San Juan La Laguna’s weavers are also among the last Indigenous artisans to create natural dyes for their yarn using locally grown plants.
Why are the Tz'utujil migrating?
Tz'utujil migration is the result of a complex mix of economic, sociopolitical, and institutional factors. Like many other Maya communities, the Tz'utujil have endured centuries of chronic poverty and limited economic opportunities, creating the need for many to seek employment abroad. Their decision to migrate is also fueled by government neglect and systemic inequity.
Santiago Atitlán, located on Lake Atitlán, has been a popular tourist destination in Guatemala for decades, even during the country's 36-year armed internal conflict against Indigenous communities. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, disrupted tourism in this area, affecting the main source of income for many residents. Although the Tz’utujil have historically been a community with little migration, this loss of income has led to a growing number of people migrating to find work to be able to meet their basic needs.
In October 2005, Hurricane Stan devastated the Tz’utujil communities around Lake Atitlán and the central highlands of Guatemala. The storm brought 20 inches of rainfall that triggered catastrophic flooding and massive mudslides and caused widespread destruction. Its impact can still be felt in these regions.
The Guatemalan government responded poorly during the aftermath of Hurricane Stan. Thousands of survivors spent years living in makeshift shelters, some of which are still in use today, despite being intended to be temporary housing. Many Tz’utujil continue to live in poor conditions, lacking the aid and assistance they were supposed to receive from the government. Homes, farms, and entire villages were destroyed by Hurricane Stan, leaving countless families with no other alternative but to relocate.
The Roles And Importance Of Tz'utujil Interpreters
Tz'utujil 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 Tz'utujil 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 Tz'utujil interpreters are indispensable.
Besides providing language assistance, interpreters are also integral to intercultural communication. Having an interpreter who understands both American and Tz'utujil cultures can help make communication smoother and less stressful for both sides.
The scarcity of Tz'utujil interpreters in the United States can be attributed to a variety of factors: a small Tz'utujil-speaking population, limited certification programs for Tz'utujil interpretation, and strict legal requirements that require U.S. citizenship or work authorization for interpreters to work in immigration and legal proceedings. These factors dramatically reduce the pool of qualified professionals, leaving many Tz'utujil speakers without the linguistic support needed to access essential services like healthcare and the justice system.
Without language access, Tz'utujil people are more vulnerable to inequalities and potential dangers. Language barriers can lead to catastrophic consequences, such as misdiagnoses in medical settings, ineffective communication during asylum hearings, or unjust deportations. Language access is more than just a matter of equal opportunity for Tz'utujil speakers. It is a matter of their safety and social inclusion in the U.S.
Work With A Tz'utujil Interpreter from Maya Bridge
At Maya Bridge, we offer language services for Tz'utujil and all of its variants to provide your organization with comprehensive linguistic support. Since 2021, we have provided Tz'utujil to English interpretation to countless 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 Tz'utujil interpretation, 24 hours a day.
We offer:
Video Remote Tz'utujil Interpretation
Over-the-phone Tz'utujil Interpretation
In-person Tz'utujil Interpretation
Court-certified Tz'utujil Interpretation
Medical-certified Tz'utujil Interpretation
Tz'utujil Translation
Tz'utujil 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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