CAKCHIQUEL LANGUAGE

member of the Quich group of Mayan languages, spoken in central Guatemala. Closely related to and sometimes considered simply a dialect of Cakchiquel is Tzutujil (Zutuhil), spoken in the same region. Both Cakchiquel and Tzutujil have close grammatical and phonological affinities to the Quich language. In ancient literature, one very important work in Cakchiquel exists, the Annals of the Cakchiquels, which dates from the 16th century. Written in an orthography adapted from that of Spanish, it traces the history of the ruling classes of the Cakchiquel people. See also Maya languages; Quich language.