Ch'orti’ Interpreters and Translators: A Quick Guide

As the Ch'orti’ 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 Ch'orti’ interpreters and translators step in and help migrants integrate safely into their new surroundings.

For the Ch'orti’, whose cultural and linguistic heritage has stood the test of time, language services play a major role in bridging the gap between their traditional ways of life and the challenges of modern migration.

This blog explores the Ch'orti’ language, why the Ch'orti’ are migrating, and the help interpreters can provide as they settle in the United States.

Who speaks Ch'orti’?

Ch'orti’ is primarily spoken by the Indigenous Ch'orti’ Maya communities who live in southeastern Guatemala, northwestern Honduras, and northern El Salvador. The term "Ch'orti’" translates to "language of the corn farmers," which hints at their agricultural roots.

Current estimates suggest that only a few thousand fluent speakers remain, making it an endangered language. The number of speakers in Honduras and El Salvador has diminished dramatically, and the language is nearly extinct in those areas.

Ch'orti’ belongs to the Eastern Ch’olan branch of the Mayan language family. It is closely related to Ch'ol and Chontal, which are also members of the same branch. While minor regional differences appear among speakers, no distinct variants have been formally identified. This uniformity is likely the result of its small, concentrated population and its shift toward using Spanish more.

The Ch'orti’ are direct descendants of the Maya civilization that built and ruled the city of Copán, a major center of Classic Maya culture from roughly 250 to 900 CE. Copán’s royal dynasty, founded by Yax K'uk' Mo', reigned for nearly four centuries, leaving monumental ruins and inscriptions that UNESCO now protects as a World Heritage Site.

During post-colonial eras, Guatemalan and Honduran governments dispossessed the Ch'orti’ of the majority of their land and also suppressed their language and culture. They were denied Indigenous status for decades, classified instead as mestizos or campesinos. Over the past few decades, grassroots organizations and political movements have worked to reclaim their land rights, cultural identity, and political representation. 

Ch'orti’ serves as an important link to ancient Maya inscriptions. Its structure and vocabulary closely resemble the language of Classic Maya hieroglyphs, allowing researchers to decipher these ancient hieroglyphic texts. This has helped researchers to uncover details of Mayan ceremonial life, political history, and religious beliefs that would otherwise remain as undeciphered symbols.

Why are the Ch'orti’ migrating?

Migration from the Ch'orti’ region stems from necessity rather than aspiration. Many migrate because conditions in their homelands simply leave them with no other alternative.

Erratic weather patterns, such as repeated droughts and destructive storms, have devastated subsistence farming across the Ch'orti’ region, now known as the Dry Corridor of Guatemala. The Ch'orti’, whose livelihoods depend heavily on small-scale agriculture, have seen their corn and bean crops, essential staples for many families, fail to grow repeatedly. This disruption has threatened their food security and consequently led to widespread hunger and malnutrition. 

 Besides these environmental hardships, the Ch'orti’ also face deep-rooted political and social issues. They have long experienced land conflicts, political repression, and violence, all of which are tied to their history of dispossession and systemic exclusion. Moreover, weak legal protections and limited access to justice continue to expose communities to risk and exploitation.

The Roles And Importance Of Ch'orti’ Interpreters

Ch'orti’ 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 Ch'orti’ 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 Ch'orti’ interpreters are indispensable. 

Besides providing language assistance, interpreters are also integral to intercultural communication. Having an interpreter who understands both American and Ch'orti’ cultures can help make communication smoother and less stressful for both sides.

Finding a Ch'orti’ interpreter is a challenge. Ch'orti’ is an endangered language, with few fluent speakers and even fewer professionally trained interpreters. Most Ch'orti’ speakers also now speak Spanish as their primary language and often use it in formal or public settings. Full fluency and the use of Ch'orti’ at a professional level is, as a result, declining. 

Demand for Ch'orti’ interpretation exists but tends to be inconsistent. Organizations offering Ch'orti’ language services often depend on a very small group of qualified professionals. This creates long wait times, limited access, and challenges in meeting the language needs of Ch'orti’-speaking communities.

This language disparity restricts Ch'orti’ speakers' access to healthcare, legal aid, and social services. Without language services, they are at risk of misdiagnoses, unfair asylum decisions, and unjust deportations. Ch'orti’ speakers need access to qualified interpreters to have a clear understanding of their circumstances and exercise their fundamental right to language access in the U.S.

Work With A Ch'orti’ Interpreter from Maya Bridge 

We offer language services for Ch'orti’ and all of its variants. Our Ch'orti’-to-English interpretation services are trusted by government agencies, healthcare providers, and courts across the country. As a small, niche agency specializing in Indigenous languages, we are uniquely equipped to deliver on-demand Ch'orti’ interpretation, 24 hours a day.

We offer:

• Video Remote Ch'orti’ Interpretation 

• Over-the-phone Ch'orti’ Interpretation 

• In-person Ch'orti’ Interpretation 

• Court-certified Ch'orti’ Interpretation

• Medical-certified Ch'orti’ Interpretation

• Ch'orti’ Translation

• Ch'orti’ Voiceover and Subtitles

Learn more about our language services here. 

Maya Bridge - A Leading Advocate For Indigenous and Lower-resource Language Access In The U.S.

At Maya Bridge Language Services, we’re a mission-driven interpretation agency offering 24/7 on-demand services. We proudly provide interpretation in over 230 languages, including more than 145 Indigenous and low-diffusion languages from Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Native American communities.

Since 2021, we have worked diligently to mobilize, train, and evaluate a network of hundreds of interpreters both in the U.S. and throughout the world. Our growing network of trained interpreters ensures that Indigenous language speakers are heard and understood in critical moments, from healthcare to legal settings and access to government services.

Contact us to schedule a meeting or call us anytime, day or night, at (801) 753-8568.

About the Author

Jace Norton is a Q'eqchi' interpreter and linguist with an extensive background in the Q'eqchi' language. Norton lived and worked among the Q'eqchi' people from 2010 to 2012, created a language learning guide for Q'eqchi' in 2014, and worked in Q'eqchi' translation and interpretation from 2017 to 2021. In 2021, Norton founded Maya Bridge Language Services and is now a leading advocate for Mayan language access in the US.