Caribbean Indigenous and Endangered Languages

Alternate Names:   Quecchi', Cacche', Ketchi', Kekchi'

Classification:        Mayan, Quichean-Mamean, Greater Quichean, Kekchi

Comments:           SVO. Traditional religion, Christian.

Dialects:               Only slight dialect differences. Prestige dialect is Cobán, Alta Verapaz.

Language Use:    All ages.

Language Development:     Literacy rate in first language: 10% to 30%. Literacy rate in second language: 22%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1988 - 2001.

Population:      400,000 in Guatemala (1998 SIL). Population total all countries: 421,286.

Region:     Northern Alta Verapaz, southern Petén departments in Guatemala. Also spoken in Belize, El Salvador.

ALSO SPOKEN IN:  Belize, El Salvador