Chuj Interpreters and Translators: A Quick Guide

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

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

Who speaks Chuj?

Chuj (pronounced Choo) is a Mayan language primarily spoken in the northwestern part of Huehuetenango, Guatemala. With only about 50,000 speakers, Chuj is considered an endangered language. Large Chuj-speaking communities can be found in the United States, especially in the Midwest.

A member of the Q’anjob’alan branch of the Mayan language family, Chuj belongs to the Chujean subgroup alongside Tojolab’al, the language it is most closely related to. Chuj has two variants, San Mateo Ixtatán and San Sebastián Coatán, which are often not mutually intelligible.

The Chuj lost most of their communal land in the late 19th century when the Guatemalan government transferred it to wealthy landowners, which led many Chuj to fall into poverty. After fighting to keep their lands in the high mountains, they earned a reputation as rebels. 

Chuj salt production, practiced for centuries in San Mateo Ixtatán, involves extracting salt from natural brine springs using evaporation techniques passed down through generations. Produced in small family-run businesses with clay basins and wood-fired ovens, San Mateo’s black salt is an important part of the local economy and is highly valued for its medicinal properties.

The Chuj are known for their storytelling. They have preserved a rich oral tradition that records their ancestral knowledge and includes myths, legends, and accounts of local and current events like their salt production and the beginnings of Guatemala’s state-sponsored genocide (in which they were one of the four main Indigenous groups targeted). They will often incorporate elements from African and European cultures and also share them in communal settings. 

Why are the Chuj migrating?

Indigenous communities in Guatemala, including the Chuj have faced discrimination, human rights abuses, and violence for decades, with no improvement since the genocide in Guatemala ended. This discrimination and exclusion from society, alongside the lasting repercussions of settler colonialism, make it harder for them to find work. Consequently, they are often limited to low-paying jobs, with many families relying on their children to work and help support the household.

Western development projects like the construction of hydropower plants have violently encroached on Chuj ancestral lands. These projects have led to deadly fights, displaced thousands of Chuj, and destroyed their lands.

Centuries of persecution, land dispossession, and systemic violence have devastated Chuj communities, leaving many with no choice but to leave their homes. It is noteworthy, however, that the Chuj, despite these hardships, have been able to preserve their cultural traditions while adapting to new surroundings. 

The Roles And Importance Of Chuj Interpreters

Chuj 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 Chuj 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 Chuj interpreters are indispensable. 

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

Chuj is an endangered language; its use is decreasing, and fewer people are learning it as well. While many Chuj speakers are bilingual in Spanish, few are fluent in English. There are currently no established Chuj interpretation training or certification programs, which are required to practice in legal and medical settings. Although there are some interpreters available online, their demanding schedules and limited availability can make it difficult to work with them.

Work With A Chuj Interpreter from Maya Bridge 

At Maya Bridge, we offer language services for Chuj in both major variants to provide your organization with comprehensive linguistic support. Since 2021, we have provided Chuj to English interpretation to countless government agencies, healthcare organizations, and courts. As a small, niche interpretation agency specializing in Latin American Indigenous languages, we are uniquely equipped to offer on-demand Chuj interpretation, 24 hours a day.

We offer:

• Video Remote Chuj Interpretation 

• Over-the-phone Chuj Interpretation 

• In-person Chuj Interpretation 

• Court-certified Chuj Interpretation

• Medical-certified Chuj Interpretation

• Chuj Translation

• Chuj 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.

Since 2021, Maya Bridge Language Services has been advocating for increased access for speakers of Mayan and other Latin American and global Indigenous languages here in the United States. Maya Bridge is a mission-driven, niche interpretation agency offering 24/7 on-demand services for over 100 Indigenous languages from Latin America, as well as African, Asian, Pacific Island, Native American, and other Indigenous languages. 

We have worked diligently to mobilize, train, and evaluate a network of hundreds of interpreters both in the U.S. and throughout the world to ensure that speakers of Indigenous languages can fully understand and be understood in important situations like healthcare, legal settings, in disaster and emergency response scenarios, and in receiving access to government programs. 

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.