International Multilingual Journal of Contemporary Research

Preserving and Promoting the Bats'ik'op (Tsotsil) Language and Culture through Quality Bilingual Education
Dr. Karla Del Carpio

Abstract
This work examines the social factors that have influenced the Tsotsil linguistic community to maintain their indigenous language even if there are factors that have worked against such maintenance. The Tsotsil language is an indigenous Mayan language with approximately 417 462 speakers (INEGI 2010) and is spoken in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico. The closeness to cities, the lack of employment in this community, government programs and especially the establishment of “bilingual" schools where Spanish is more frequently used than Tsotsil, are some of the factors that have influenced Tsotsil people to use Spanish. Nonetheless, Tsotsil speakers identify with their indigenous language and culture so they are concerned with preserving it and transmitting it to younger generations. On the other hand, Tsotsil people realize that speaking Spanish is necessary so they can communicate with mestizo Mexicans and they can have different opportunities in life. Since Tsotsil speakers have historically been characterized by discrimination and oppression and by having their linguistic human rights violated, this work explores ways to preserve and promote the Tsotsil language and culture through quality bilingual education with the purpose of contributing to the defense of Tsotsil speakers’ human right to communicate and maintain their indigenous language and culture.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/imjcr.v11n1a1