Language and Life in Q’anjob’al Communities
This talk offers an introduction to the Q’anjob’al people, a Maya community from the Mesoamerican region, focusing on their language, culture, and history of displacement. It explores the community’s connections with related Maya groups such as the Akateko, Popti’, Chuj, and Tojolab’al, while addressing topics of migration, bilingual education in Guatemala, and collective life in Q’anjob’al communities. The presentation also reflects on the significance of teaching Q’anjob’al language and culture at the University of Illinois, emphasizing the role of Indigenous language preservation and the transmission of ancestral knowledge.
Adán is a native Q’anjob’al speaker from Barillas, Guatemala. He studied linguistics at the University of Texas at Austin, worked with the Guatemalan Academy of Mayan Languages, and has published on Q’anjob’al literacy and education. Adán currently works at CLACS as a Q’anjob’al instructor, teaching Q’anjob’al Language for Beginners and Q’anjob’al and the Community courses.
We hope to see you there!