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Cholan-Tzeltalan languages

North American Language Families

The Cholan-Tzeltalan languages form a top-level branch of the Mayan language family, comprising two subbranches, Cholan and Tzeltalan, and encompassing six languages in total: Chol, Chontal, Chorti, Cholti, Tzeltal and Tzotzil. The ancient language used in Maya hieroglyphic writing is now recognized as an ancestor of one or more of the modern Cholan languages. As of 2017 the most widely accepted classification places the Cholan-Tzeltalan branch within the broader Western Mayan and Core Mayan groupings, though some details remain debated among specialists.

Facts
Region
Belize (former), Guatemala, Mexico (current) 1
Speaker Count
1,369,500 1
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Ch'olan languages
  • Infobox, region
    Belize (former), Guatemala, Mexico (current)
  • Infobox, speakers
    1,369,500
View the Source
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