How to Translate English to Mayan
If you think Mayan is a dead, forgotten language, you're wrong--millions of times over. In Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize, more than six million people speak about 30 Mayan languages today. (These languages all come from Proto-Mayan, spoken thousands of years ago during the Mayan heyday.) It's not easy, but you can find ways to translate Mayan to and from other languages. Here's how to translate English into Yucatec Maya, a language currently used by more than 750,000 people.
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Instructions
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If you only need to translate individual words, look at an English-Mayan dictionary. (Mayan is now written in Roman letters, so you don't have to study ancient hieroglyphs.) Check out hard-copy books such as "Maya (Yucatec) Dictionary & Phrasebook" or English-Mayan websites (see Resources below). Don't bother with most traditional translation websites, though--they usually cover more popular languages and don't include Mayan.
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If you have a document to translate but you don't know Mayan, use a translation service such as Applied Language Solutions or Global Voices. These companies employ translators who speak Mayan as their native language, and they can help you with works pertaining to finance, business, law, science, technology and more.
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Learn Mayan yourself if you're good at languages and have plenty of time. Books and CDs are available for people who plan to travel--or just want to learn the language. A good place to start is the Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies sponsored by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University.
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Tips & Warnings
Interested in ancient Mayan hieroglyphs? Start at the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies Inc. You'll find all kinds of resources to get you started in your studies.
Resources
- Read this Article in Spanish
- Learn basic Mayan vocabulary.
- Learn more about the translation services of Applied Language Solutions.
- Learn more about the translation services of Global Voices.
- Learn more about the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies Inc.
- Learn more about the Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
