Mixteco Interpreters and Translators: A Quick Guide

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

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

Who speaks Mixteco?

Mixteco is spoken primarily in southern Mexico, across the states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacán, and Puebla, a region also known as La Mixteca. The Mixteco people often call themselves the Ñuu Savi or "People of the Rain." With over half a million speakers, they are the third-largest Indigenous group in Mexico. The name for “Mixteco” in the Mixtec language is Tu’un Savi or "language/tongue of the rain."

Mixteco belongs to the Eastern Oto-Manguean language family and is closely related to Trique and Cuicatec. The exact number of Mixteco variants remains debated among linguists and anthropologists. By some estimates, there are at least 50 distinct variants of the Mixtec language.

Researchers are still working to fully understand and document Mixteco’s linguistic variations, but because of Mixtec migration patterns and the region’s geographic isolation, it has been difficult to do so. Its internal diversity is high and could be attributed to La Mixteca's rugged topography, where steep mountains and narrow valleys have limited communication between communities.

Mixtec history dates back far before the Spanish invasion of Mexico. Archaeological evidence shows that small farming settlements existed in the region as early as 1500 BCE. Between 500-750 CE, their communities developed tremendously. During this time, they built urban centers that featured elaborate architecture and sophisticated irrigation systems.

The Mixtecs were also known for their sophisticated cultural and scientific works, including an advanced astronomical calendar and an intricate glyphic writing system, as well as for their metalwork, jewelry, and painted codices.

Agriculture continues to play a big role in Mixtec family life. Mixtec farmers use traditional farming methods, such as slash-and-burn cultivation, manual tools, and ox-drawn plows. Their primary crops include corn, beans, and squash, and they typically also grow wheat, tomatoes, garlic, and onions. Some communities hunt, fish, raise livestock, and forage for wild foods. Subsistence farming is practiced in most Mixtec households on small, family-owned plots that are usually passed down through the father's side.

Why are the Mixtec People Migrating?

Mixtecs have a long history of migration, both domestically and internationally. Poverty, drought, and a lack of work opportunities have historically driven this migration. Within Mexico, they tend to move to major agricultural and urban centers, such as Mexico City, Sinaloa, and Baja California. Others move to the United States, where they have formed large communities in several states like California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Oregon.

Mixtec migration to the United States notably began with the Bracero Program in the 1940s, which recruited Mexican laborers for American farms. Eventually, large-scale migration picked up in the mid-1980s. Movement between Mexico and the U.S. once followed a circular pattern, with workers returning home after seasonal jobs. But with stricter border controls and the increasing costs and risks of cross-border movement, a once seasonal, circular pattern has gradually shifted to permanent migration.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had a huge impact on farming communities in Mexico. When subsidized American corn entered Mexican markets, local farmers couldn't compete with the cheaper imported corn. This had a direct impact on the Mixtec, whose livelihood had depended on corn cultivation for decades. The agreement eliminated government support for small-scale farmers and instead offered support to larger, more commercial operations. In contrast to its promise of economic development, NAFTA worsened rural poverty and forced many Mixtec farmers to flee their ancestral lands and search for work elsewhere.

The Roles And Importance Of Mixteco Interpreters

Mixteco 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 Mixteco 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 Mixteco interpreters are indispensable. 

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

The demand for Mixtec interpreters has grown over the last few years, especially in healthcare and legal settings. However, there are not enough interpreters to meet this demand. This is largely because there are so many Mixteco variants that are not mutually intelligible, and finding the right interpreter is not always possible.

Due to the vast array of variants of the language, Spanish to Mixteco interpreters are necessary to meet the substantial demand for interpretation services. Owing to a lack of training and certification materials available in the Spanish language, potential interpreters with the language skills are not able to receive the necessary training and preparation. 

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

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

We offer:

• Video Remote Mixteco Interpretation 

• Over-the-phone Mixteco Interpretation 

• In-person Mixteco Interpretation 

• Court-certified Mixteco Interpretation

• Medical-certified Mixteco Interpretation

• Mixteco Translation

• Mixteco 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.