Achi language
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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherTemplate:Main other
Achi (Achí in Spanish) is a Mayan language very closely related to Kʼicheʼ (Quiché in the older orthography). It is spoken by the Achi people, primarily in the department of Baja Verapaz in Guatemala.
There are two Achi dialects. Rabinal Achi is spoken in the Rabinal area, and Cubulco Achi is spoken in the Cubulco area west of Rabinal.
One of the masterpieces of precolumbian literature is the Rabinal Achí, a theatrical play written in the Achi language.
Phonology
The tables present the consonant[1] and vowel[2] phonemes of Achi. On the left is the spelling in use.[3]
Consonants
| Labial | Alveolar | Post-alv./ Palatal |
Velar | Uvular | Pharyn- geal |
Glottal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | n [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | |||||||
| Plosive/ Affricate |
voiceless | p [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | t [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | tz [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | ch [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | k [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | q [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | ’ [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | |
| ejective | tʼ [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | tzʼ [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | chʼ [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | kʼ [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | |||||
| implosive | bʼ [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | ||||||||
| Fricative | s [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | x [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | j [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | qʼ [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | |||||
| Trill | r [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | ||||||||
| Approximant | w [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | l [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | y [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | ||||||
- Voiceless plosives can have aspirated allophones Script error: No such module "IPA"., either when preceding a consonant or in word-final position.
- A uvular consonant Template:IPAslink can also be heard as velar Template:IPAblink in some environments.
- Template:IPAslink when preceding a velar consonant can be heard as a velar nasal Template:IPAblink.
- Sonorants Script error: No such module "IPA". when preceding a voiceless consonant or in word-final position can occur sounding voiceless Script error: No such module "IPA"..[4]
Vowels
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close | i [[[:Template:IPA link]]] ii [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | u [[[:Template:IPA link]]] uu [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | |
| Mid | e [[[:Template:IPA link]]] ee [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | o [[[:Template:IPA link]]] oo [[[:Template:IPA link]]] | |
| Open | a [[[:Template:IPA link]]] aa [[[:Template:IPA link]]] |
References
External links
- Collections in the Archive of the Indigenous Languages of Latin America
- Pronouncing the Maya Achi Alphabet
- New Testament in Achi
- OLAC resources in and about the Achi language
- Listen to a sample of Achi from Global Recordings Network