Zapoteco Interpreters and Translators: A Quick Guide

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

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

Who speaks Zapoteco?

Zapoteco is spoken primarily in the Mexican state of Oaxaca by approximately 490,000 people. The Zapotec people are the largest Indigenous group in Oaxaca and the third-largest in Mexico. 

Zapoteco is also the parent language of an entire branch of languages in the Eastern branch of the Oto-Manguean language family. Linguists debate the exact number of Zapotec variants, with estimates ranging from 40 to over 60. Ethnologue (a global language database) identifies 58, while the Mexican government officially recognizes 60. The majority of these variants are mutually unintelligible.

The Zapotec developed one of Mesoamerica’s earliest writing systems, dating back to around 500 BCE. When Spanish colonizers arrived in modern-day Mexico, Zapotec writing had existed for about 2,000 years. With the introduction of the Spanish language and Latin alphabet, Zapotec speakers adapted their language, collaborating with Spanish missionaries to produce dictionaries and religious texts. The Zapotec also used alphabetic writing to record important legal documents, such as wills and land titles.

The ruins of Monte Albán, Mitla, and Yagul serve as living testimony to the achievements of the pre-Hispanic Zapotec civilization. Their cultural and linguistic influence continues to be very visible in Oaxaca, where Zapotec art, cuisine, and traditions form a core part of the region's culture.

Why are the Zapotec people migrating?

Economic hardship, environmental pressures, and limited opportunities in Oaxaca have led many Zapotec to migrate within Mexico and internationally. Many seek employment in agriculture, construction, and service industries, primarily in Mexico City and California. Young people often leave to pursue higher education, as opportunities are scarce in rural Zapotec communities.

For generations, the Zapotec have practiced subsistence farming, but the effects of climate change have made this traditional way of life more and more difficult to maintain. Zapotec families now face challenges as soil depletion and irregular rainfall threaten food security. Migration has become a means of survival, especially for young people who don't feel a sense of security in their homelands. 

Oaxaca's Central Valley suffered devastating droughts in 2005 that reduced crop production and diminished water resources, which ultimately led to decreased crop yields and water availability for the following years. Many were forced to abandon agriculture entirely. For most communities, conditions have not yet improved. This decline in agricultural viability, combined with the lack of economic investment in the region, has also greatly contributed to their migration.

During the 1970s and 1980s, large numbers of Zapotec people moved to Mexico City in search of better living conditions, education, and economic opportunities. Others continued northward to Los Angeles. By the 1990s, growing socioeconomic pressures in Mexico led to a shift in Zapotec migration patterns, as many began to migrate internationally.

The collapsed local economy, restructured agricultural policies, and insufficient federal investment in education and healthcare were some of the primary drivers of this change. Economic instability, including Mexico's 1982 debt crisis and the drastic economic measures that followed, also drove many Zapotec from their homes. 

Today, Los Angeles has the largest Zapotec community outside of Oaxaca.

The Roles And Importance Of Zapoteco Interpreters

Zapoteco 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 Zapotec 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 Zapoteco interpreters are indispensable. 

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

Zapoteco interpreters are currently in short supply for several reasons. One major challenge is that Zapoteco is a diverse group of mutually unintelligible language variants rather than a single language. Consequently, finding the right interpreter for a specific variant can be difficult. Additionally, unlike more widely spoken languages, Zapoteco lacks standardized certification programs, which are required for interpreters to work in legal and healthcare settings.

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

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

We offer:

• Video Remote Zapoteco Interpretation 

• Over-the-phone Zapoteco Interpretation 

• In-person Zapoteco Interpretation 

• Court-certified Zapoteco Interpretation

• Medical-certified Zapoteco Interpretation

• Zapoteco Translation

• Zapoteco 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.