The Role of Language in Ideological Construction of Mayan Identities in Guatemal

Abstract

This paper describes the ways in which Mayan identities are ideologically constructed through language practices. It explores language ideologies based on the analysis of metalinguistic commentaries and code switching incidents in Momostenango, a K’iche’ Maya town in Guatemala. This study demonstrates how the K’iche’ Mayan language serves as an icon that portrays and as an index that marks Mayan identities. I argue that social categories are constructed based on typification of certain forms of speech onto which ethnoracial distinction is projected.