English

 

Tsotsil Grammar

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This section is focused on the description of Tsotsil grammar, it is not intended to be an extensive study but rather to be an orientation regarding the grammar of this language.

 

In the Spanish language we find parts that make up a sentence, these are the following:

• Noun

• Adjective

• Pronoun

• Article

• Verb

• Adverb

• Preposition

• Conjunction

• Interjection

 

While in Tsotsil we find that there are similarities:

• Noun

• Pronoun

• Verb

• Article

• Adjective

• Adverb

• Preposition

• Conjunction

• Interjection

 

In the English language there are the same similarities with the Spanish language

• Noun

• Verb

• Adverb

• Pronoun

• Article

• Preposition

• Conjunction

• Interjection

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Phonetics

 

Most of the Tsotsil phonemes are the same as those in Spanish, however, there are phonemes specific to the Tsotsil language; especially glottalized sounds, which occur in both vowels and consonants. Glottalized sounds are represented in the spellings with a glottal or saltillo (').

 

Vowels: A’ E’ I’ O’ U’ Consonants: B Ch’ K’ P P’ T’ Ts Ts’ V X

 

Glottalized vowels require that when pronouncing them the air pauses and then comes out abruptly.

 

A  Ka’ = Horse       E  Te’ = Tree/wood      I  Si’ = Firewood

 

O  Vo’ = Water       U  Mu’il = Sister-in-law

 

The consonants do not involve greater effort in their pronunciation, but those with a glottal do. The following is the pronunciation of the spellings:

 

/b/ It is bilabial, that is, it is pronounced using the upper and lower lip.

Bin = Pot

 

/ch'/ It is pronounced using the tip of the tongue with the alveolus expelling the air abruptly.

Cho' = Metate

 

/k'/ It is pronounced using the back of the tongue and the glottis, exhaling suddenly.

K'ok' = Fire

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/P/ It is bilabial, it is pronounced using the upper and lower lip.
Pepen = Butterfly

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/p'/  It is bilabial, to pronounce it you use both lips abruptly.

P’is = Cup

 

/t'/ It is pronounced using the apex of the tongue, the alveolus and partially the upper teeth and also abruptly.

T'ul = Rabbit

 

/ts/ It is how to produce the two phonemes of the spellings /t/ and /s/ at the same time, and it is achieved by preventing the passage of air between the tip of the tongue and the alveolus, and then releasing the air suddenly.

Tsu = Tecomate

 

/ts'/ It is pronounced by preventing the passage of air between the tip of the tongue and the alveolus like /ts/ in a sudden or exaggerated way.

Ts'unum = Hummingbird

 

/v/ It is labiodental, it is pronounced using the lower lip and upper teeth.

Vaj = Omelet

 

/x/ It is articulated allowing the passage of air in the vocal apparatus partially, it is like “shh” in Spanish when shutting up someone only that it deforms slowly.

Xinich = Ant

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Position mark

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