A Pedagogical Grammar for Moocho’ (Mayan)

Jaime Pérez González
Linguistics
UC Santa Barbara

The objective of this project is to develop a pedagogical grammar for Mocho’, a critically endangered Mayan language spoken in Chiapas, Mexico. Currently, Mocho’ has approximately 20 native speakers, all of whom are over the age of 75. Despite its status, there are promising efforts underway, as several children are learning their ancestral language through community-led initiatives. Existing descriptive linguistic research on Mocho’ is limited, and there is a clear absence of pedagogical materials. Therefore, the creation of accessible teaching resources for non-linguists is essential to support both instruction and learning of Mocho’. This project aims to produce unique educational outcomes that will enhance understanding of Mocho’s linguistic structure, contribute to ongoing revitalization efforts, and promote the continued vitality of the language within the community.