Chatino Interpreters and Translators: A Quick Guide

As the Chatino 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 Chatino interpreters and translators step in and help migrants integrate safely into their new surroundings.

For the Chatino, 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 Chatino language, why the Chatino are migrating, and the help interpreters can provide as they settle in the United States.

Who speaks Chatino?

Chatino is a group of languages that are spoken by approximately 45,000 people in southern Oaxaca, Mexico. The term "Chatino" originates from the Spanish adaptation of "cha'tnö," literally translating to "words work." Chatino speakers use this term to refer both to their language and themselves. 

Recognized as a national language of Mexico, Chatino belongs to the Zapotecan branch of the Oto-Manguean language family and shares linguistic similarities with Zapotec. The Chatino language consists of three main groups, each with multiple variants that have varying degrees of mutual intelligibility: Zenzontepec Chatino, Tataltepec Chatino, and Eastern Chatino.

The little that is known about Chatino origins comes from linguistic and archaeological studies. Lexicostatistics suggest that Chatino broke away from the Zapotecan language family between 4000 BCE and 200 CE, while archaeological evidence indicates that the Chatino separated from the Zapotecs around 1-30 CE.

In 1522, the Spanish conquered Tututepec, a settlement in present-day Oaxaca, where the Chatino lived under a tributary system. Spanish rule introduced new authorities, religious conversions, and increased taxation, but the most devastating impact came from European diseases, which caused catastrophic population losses. 

Under Spanish control, the Chatino were forced into cochineal production, a valuable dye. After Mexico gained independence in 1821, the cochineal market collapsed, which severely disrupted the region's economy. Liberal reforms between 1856 and 1859 further devastated Chatino communities as they lost much of their native lands.

Agriculture is a central part of Chatino life. Corn, beans, squash, tomatoes, and chilies are staple crops, while coffee provides an important source of income. Increasing employment in commercial farming has led to a decrease in traditional handmade crafts. Pottery-making and major weaving traditions have nearly disappeared, though belts and baskets are still being made. Traditional clothing, such as white cotton garments for men and long skirts and blouses for women, is now predominantly made from machine-produced fabrics rather than hand-woven materials.

Why are the Chatino migrating?

Chatino migration is the result of a series of overlapping historical, economic, environmental, and social pressures. Among these, the most notable are the restructuring of land ownership and the development of industrial agriculture. 

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, government land reforms and land seizures displaced many Chatino from their ancestral territories, disrupting their traditional ways of life and subsistence farming practices. With fewer farming opportunities, their communities weakened economically, and individuals and families were forced to seek work abroad or in other regions of Mexico. These changes also led to land disputes and decreased access to resources, both of which further destabilized their communities and intensified the need to migrate.

Land issues continue to plague the Chatino. In the last few decades, their lands have been affected by environmental degradation and detrimental changes in agricultural conditions. Moreover, large-scale agricultural development projects have caused considerable damage throughout the area. Their migration is as much a direct response to land loss as economic hardship.

Today, there are several Chatino hubs in the Southeastern United States, notably in Durham, North Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, and Huntsville, Alabama.

The Roles And Importance Of Chatino Interpreters

Chatino 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 Chatino 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 Chatino interpreters are indispensable. 

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

It is usually difficult to find individuals who are both fluent in Chatino and professionally trained as interpreters. There are several reasons for this.

Chatino is not widely spoken outside southern Oaxaca, and consequently, fewer resources are available for professional development. Interpreter training programs typically prioritize more widely spoken languages, which leaves languages like Chatino underrepresented and Chatino speakers underserved. Without adequate institutional support, few opportunities exist for individuals to receive the necessary training and become interpreters.

This language disparity restricts Chatino speakers' access to healthcare, legal aid, and social services. Without language services, they are at risk of misdiagnoses, unfair asylum decisions, and unjust deportations. Chatino 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 Chatino Interpreter from Maya Bridge 

We offer language services for Chatino and all of its variants. Our Chatino-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 Chatino interpretation, 24 hours a day.

We offer:

• Video Remote Chatino Interpretation 

• Over-the-phone Chatino Interpretation 

• In-person Chatino Interpretation 

• Court-certified Chatino Interpretation

• Medical-certified Chatino Interpretation

• Chatino Translation

• Chatino 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.

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 2010-2012, created a language learning guide for Q'eqchi' in 2014, and worked in Q'eqchi' translation and interpretation from 2017-2021. In 2021, Norton founded Maya Bridge Language Services and is now a leading advocate for Mayan language access in the US.