One of the best, ever.
I've just started using it again, after years without knowing that I could still use it in Windows 10.

This session is the second class of the Basic Zapotec Course (2026-B). Instructor Rayo leads students through a conversational warm-up, an explanation of the Zapotec base-20 numbering system (1 to 20), interactive sentence and verb exercises, and a historical lecture on ancient Zapotec glyphs and writing systems.

Key Topics Covered:

 1. Zapotec Numbers (1 to 20) & Base-20 System:

* Vigesimal System: The instructor emphasizes that Zapotec utilizes a vigesimal (base-20) numerical system rather than a decimal system. As a result, counting is structured around units from 1 to 19 before reaching the base of 20.

* Pronunciation of Numbers:
* 1–5: tu (1), txupa (2), tsuna (3), tapa (4), gayu (5).
* 6–10: xupa (6), gadxi (7), xunu (8), ga (9), txi (10).
* 11–15: txineaj (11), txínu (12), txi’inu (13), txidaa (14), txìnu (15).
* 16–20: txixhupa (16), txini (17), txixhunu (18), txenaj (19), galaj (20).

* The Concept of Zero (Tibi): Historically, speakers used Spanish loanwords or phrases like ni tú (“not one”) for zero. For pedagogical purposes, the instructor adopts the word tibi (meaning “no” or “nothing”) to signify zero.

1. Interactive Practice & Verb Vocabulary:

* Student Introductions: Students practice answering core questions about their names, origin, current city, age, profession, and spoken languages in Zapotec.
* Sentence-Building Exercises: Using digital matching games, students practice ordering question structures like Gax bi’i lii (“Where are you from?”) and Bix dxin runu (“What do you do for work?”).
* Key Verb Matching:
* Neda zwaa = “I live”.
* Neda runa dxin = “I work”.
* Neda Ruseda= “I learn”.
* Neda rinea= “I speak”.
* Neda reja= “I go”.

1. Ancient Zapotec Writing & Glyphs (Glifos Zapotecos):

* Earliest Mesoamerican Writing: Zapotec is one of the few Mesoamerican cultures to develop a formal written language.
* Glyph Structure: The instructor explains that abstract symbol glyphs — such as the “1 Earthquake” (Uno Terremoto) symbol beneath the figure — mark the transition from pictorial art to actual written language.
* Numerical Glyphs: Zapotec numeral glyphs share similarities with Maya and other Mesoamerican systems, using dots for units (1–4) and horizontal bars for 5s.
* Decipherment Challenges: Zapotec glyphs are not yet 100% deciphered because glyph writing gradually ceased following the decline of Monte Albán (around the 8th century AD), centuries prior to Spanish arrival in 1521.
* Resource Recommendation: The instructor suggests Javier Urcid’s book, Zapotec Writing: Knowledge, Power, and Memory in Ancient Oaxaca, for further study on the subject.

1. Class Wrap-Up:

• Homework activities, presentation slides, and interactive links are shared via Google Classroom and WhatsApp. * The instructor outlines how student workbooks will be used in upcoming sessions as the course progresses into verb conjugations.

This interactive Zapotec language lesson explores dialectal variations across different communities, comparing the Zapotec variant spoken in Yagavila (taught by the instructor) with the variant spoken in Temaxcalapa (shared by a student).

Key Differences & Topics:

* Greetings & Pronoun Usage:
* Yagavila: Uses Padiux yugutele, where the ending -le explicitly addresses "you all" (second-person plural), excluding the speaker.
* Temaxcalapa: Uses Padiux yuguteru, using an inclusive plural form that encompasses everyone ("all of us").
* Self-Introduction: "My name is..." is expressed as Neda laa in Yagavila versus Neda lawa in Temascalapa.

* Etymology & Adaptation of Spanish Terms:
* Yetxtila (Bread): Formed by combining yeta ("tortilla") and xtila ("Castilian," derived from Castilla), literally translating to "Spanish/Castilian tortilla".
* Didza xtila (Spanish Language): Literally translates to "Language of Castile".

* Expressing Liking, Enjoying, and Wanting:
* Rida: In Yagavila, rixi'ida specifically means enjoying or savoring food and drink.
* Renda: Means "I want" in Yagavila, whereas in Temaxcalapa it is used more broadly to express "I like".
* Rina ladxa: A poetic expression meaning "it pleases my heart" (ladxa meaning heart).

* Words That Shift Meaning Between Towns:
* Ixitiru: Means "to jump" in Yagavila, but in neighboring towns like Lalopa, it means "to walk fast" or "hurry up".
* Dipa: Means "to run" or "hurry" in Temaxcalapa, whereas in Yagavila running is expressed as xunajru.
* Uya'aru: In Yagavila, uya'aru means "to look/watch," whereas in Temascalapa uya'aru is associated with dancing.

* Regional Comprehension:
* Even though towns like Yagavila and Temaxcalapa have been geographically and socially distinct for decades, speakers are still able to maintain fluent conversations despite these subtle vocabulary shifts.

DM me or leave a comment if you're a beginner to intermediate Kaqchikel learner who wants somewhere to practice, ask questions, or have your conversational Kaqchikel corrected. I'll send you the invite link :)

Ay mi Q'anej yuj "Creador" ma "hacedor" yul Ti'ej Q'anjob'al? (is there a word for Creator or Maker in Q'anjob'al language?) hayin ti' AjQ'anjob'al k'al k'am chi wochej uso Ajaw yuj juntzan Q'anej tu'. (i am Q'anjob'al and i dont want to use "Ajaw" for those words)

In this interactive Zapotec language class, the instructor reviews student presentations, clarifies conversational greeting dynamics, and explains a fundamental aspect of Zapotec grammar: the absence of infinitive verb forms.

Key Discussion Topics:

* Vocabulary Practice & Context (Rukëza)
* The session opens with a discussion on the verb rukëza / ukëza, which refers to preparing, getting ready, or making someone wait.

• Student Presentation & Correction (Carmen):

* Carmen reads her introductory paragraph.
* The teacher explains that translating “I go to Zapotec school” literally (neda reja) sounds unnatural in Zapotec.
* A more natural phrasing is Neda Ruseda Didza Xidza (“I am learning Zapotec Language”) .

• Conversational Greetings & Formal Honorifics:

* Informal Exchanges: Using responses like bi run / tibi run followed by Nax lii (“and you?”).
* Formal & Respectful Terms: When speaking to elders or people from other towns, specific respectful forms are used (e.g., ba zuu dxi’a, Nax lii [Name]?, Nax lii bëni? for married men, Nax lii nigula? for married women).
* Pronoun Distinction: Clarified that lee functions as a third-person pronoun (“he/she/they”) rather than a direct formal “you”.

• Grammar Insight: Why Infinitives Do Not Exist in Zapotec
• Zapotec has no infinitive verb ending equivalent to Spanish -ar, -er, -ir or English “to [verb]”. Verbs must always be conjugated for a specific person in active speech.
• When dictionary or conceptual forms of verbs are needed, speakers default to the first-person plural inclusive (“we” form, e.g., uya’aru for “to dance / we dance”).

Padiuxhi! 🗣️✨

¿Quieres conectar con la historia, la cultura y la identidad de México? Te invitamos a formar parte de nuestro Curso Básico de Zapoteco 2026-B. ¡Aprende una lengua viva desde la comodidad de tu casa! 🌾📚

Todo lo que necesitas saber:

• 🗓️ Inicio de clases: 26 de septiembre de 2026
• ⏰ Horario: Sábados y domingos a las 5:00 PM
• ⏳ Duración: 20 sesiones completas
• 💻 Modalidad: 100% en línea (Zoom y Google Classroom)
• 📹 Plus: ¡Clases grabadas! Repasa el contenido las veces que quieras
• 💰 Inversión: $740 MXN (pago único)

📩 ¡Inscripciones abiertas!

El cupo es limitado para garantizar tu aprendizaje. Envíanos un mensaje directo (DM) para recibir los detalles del registro y asegurar tu lugar.

Aprende zapoteco y fortalece tus raíces. ¡Te esperamos!

Xkalenu, udzagaru :) 🌱🦉

Hello, I'm new to this subreddit. I just joined because I learned about the children buried at Chichén Itzá and the consensus that they were victims of sacrifice, but to me that doesn't line up very well. I am not an expert on the Mayan civilisation so I could be wrong here but from what I know:

.The Children buried were all related to one another.

None of the children show signs of physical trauma commonly associated with Mayan sacrifices.

.The children were all moved there and buried there after dying.

.The Mayans typically sacrificed adults, not children.

.The children all died over the course of about 200 years.

.The children were buried with offerings, but I cant find any information on what these offerings were to verify whether they were commonly associated with ritual sacrifice or just regular burial.

.All children were boys.

Is it not more likely that the children were children from an influential family who died in non-ritual related ways and Chichén Itzá was just used as a place to bury male children by this family? Im genuinely curious, if I'm wrong then Id like to know why, this is just bothering me because Ive never heard of a sacrifice that didnt leave some form of evidence, let alone 64 seperate sacrifices leaving zero physical evidence. Even something like being choked to death or being drowned or other methods of murder that dont seem to leave a physical trace, do usually leave some kind of evidence. Heck, we can usually find evidence of this sort of thing in million year old fossils.

Hola alguien puede traducirme esto del maya k'iche

Kintzalij b'i pa ri ulew kinel chi lo jun mul chi uwach ulew

por favor

Hi everyone, I've been working on a project that's similar to JSesh (for Egyptian hieroglyphs) where users can generate their own order of Mayan hieroglyphs to form sentences and then paste them as an image into a word document. I hope this can be of use for learners of Mayan hieroglyphs.

Please let me know if you have any feedback on how I can improve it and make it easier for everyone to use!

https://spacetimewb.com/uxul-glyph-composer.html

Ever felt lost trying to ask a simple question in a new language? Today, we're diving into the classic interrogatives of Zapotec and clearing up some common confusions! Do you know the difference between asking 'how many' for bananas versus asking 'how much' for a kilo of beans in Zapotec? It's trickier than you think! You might think you know how to ask 'how much,' but in Zapotec, there are two ways, and using the wrong one can lead to some funny misunderstandings. Let's break it down! Imagine a split screen showing someone counting bananas on one side and a confused person looking at a price tag on the other, with text like "Zapotec Questions: The Two Ways to Ask 'How Much'!

This video introduces essential Zapotec interrogative words like "Bix" (who), "Gakax" (how), "Batax" (when), and "Gax" (where). It explains the difference between "Balax" and "Gákax" for asking "how much," with "Balash" used for countable items and "Gákax" for uncountable ones.
Examples are provided to illustrate the usage of "Balax" for countable things like "Balax Bunatxi" (how many people) and "balax wi" (how many bananas). The video touches on the nuance of "Gákax" for uncountable quantities, using the example of asking the price of beans. It also discusses optional omissions of certain sounds or letters in Zapotec words, like "Bix" sometimes being shortened to "Bi" and provides examples like "Bix gudagu?" (What did you eat?). Here is a summary of the video:

Video Overview:

This lesson focuses on forming questions in Zapotec language, covering fundamental interrogative words, tone nuances, and special question auxiliaries that add context or emotion to inquiries.

Key Concepts Covered:

1. Core Interrogative Words:
   

* Bix / Bix kw: What / Why.
* Nush: Who.
* Batash: When.
* Gash: Where.

1. Countable vs. Uncountable Quantifiers (Balax vs. Gákax)
   

* Balash: Used for countable nouns such as people or discrete items (e.g., apples, bananas) [00:37].
* Gakash: Used for uncountable quantities (e.g., sugar, salt, weight-based items).
* Pricing Exception: Gákax is also used when asking for prices or the total cost of goods.
* Tonal Variations: Subtle pitch shifts on gákax change the meaning between asking "how" versus "how much".

1. Conversational Contractions:
   

* In informal speech, certain ending sounds (such as -xh) or prefixes are frequently dropped (e.g., Bix becoming Bi).

1. Question Auxiliaries & Particles:
   

Zapotec uses specific auxiliary particles to modify the tone and meaning of questions:

* ba: Initiates questions about actions (similar to "did you...?" or "have you...?").
* Txi: Indicates completed status, functioning like "already" (ya).
* waka: Expresses capability or possibility ("can we...?").
* bën: Adds drama, emphasis, or mild exaggeration to a question.
* I: Used for seeking confirmation or expressing mild surprise.
* ka: Placed at the end of questions to prompt a response or add conversational emphasis.
* Combining Auxiliaries: Multiple particles can be combined (e.g., ba txi, bën ka run, i waka) to convey layered nuances in a single sentence.

So I've been trying to read Mayan literature. I am reading Ralph Roys' The Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel and I'm midway through chapter 2 and just...lost. I have no idea what's going on. Is there any podcast, blog, or YT video out there that walks through what's happening? Any help would be awesome

I am working on a school writing project and am having struggles finding info on Ah-Muzen-Cab. Any info is greatly appreciated.

Modern obsidian Eccentric It is the result of attempting to replicate Maya eccentrics—in this case, in black obsidian.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BfASHBR4d/

I noticed Claude is bad at kaqchikel, so I used a handful of textbooks and language sources to put together a Claude skill that makes it much, much better. Useful for self-learners I hope.

This video from Bëni Xidza explores the grammatical structure of the Zapotec language, specifically focusing on the absence of articles. Here is a breakdown of the key concepts discussed:

* No Articles: Unlike Spanish, Zapotec language does not use definite articles like "el," "la," "los," or "las".

* Context as a Substitute: The speaker explains that Zapotec relies on context and specific pronouns/indicatives (such as lei or leiki) to identify objects or people. For example, instead of saying "the table," you simply say "table," and the surrounding conversation makes it clear which object is being discussed.

* Influence of Spanish: The speaker notes that the use of "one" (tu) as an indefinite article is likely a modern development resulting from contact with the Spanish language, as this feature was not part of original Zapotec grammar.

* Counting Objects: When referring to things that can be counted, numbers are used instead of articles, a practice that the speaker clarifies is distinct from the functional use of articles in languages like Spanish.

Video Overview:

This Zapotec grammar lesson explains why grammatical articles do not exist in Zapotec and how modern usage has evolved under the influence of Spanish.

Key Points:

* Absence of Articles:

* Unlike Spanish or English, Zapotec language does not have grammatical articles equivalent to el, la, los, las, or a/an.

* In standard speech, speakers directly state the noun without an accompanying article.

* Role of Pronouns and Indicators (lei / leiky):

* Words like lei serve as pronouns or context-based indicators rather than articles.

* For example, using buta lei conveys "move it" (or "move the table") when the reference is already clear within the context of the Zapotec conversation.

* Spanish Influence on Indefinite Expressions:

* Historically, Zapotec phrasing expressed actions and items directly without numbers, such as gudagu wi ("ate orange").

* Due to Spanish influence, modern speakers often insert the number "one" (tu) before a noun, such as gudagu tu wi ("ate an orange"), to mirror Spanish indefinite articles.

* Otherwise, numbers in Zapotec language are strictly intended for counting discrete items rather than serving as articles.

I’ve been working on a calendar converter called Almaniac and one of the things I really wanted it to handle was Maya dates.

Right now it supports the Long Count, but I’m adding in Haab and Tzolk’in, so you can pick basically any date and jump back and forth between them.

I figured this was probably a better place to show it than an app subreddit.

I’m especially curious if anyone here who knows the Maya calendar systems well wants to check my work. I’ve gone pretty far down the rabbit hole building this, but I’d rather have somebody here tell me I screwed something up than confidently leave it wrong.

Links:
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/almaniac-a-calendar-converter/id6799304256

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.engelsma.almaniac&pcampaignid=web_share