About the Language:
Q’anjob’al belongs to the Mayan language family and has deep connections to the history and traditions of the Q’anjob’al people. For many speakers, the language serves as an important connection to family, community, and cultural heritage.
About the Interview:
In this interview, Wilmer reflects on their experience speaking Q’anjob’al and explains how the language has influenced their connection to their culture and identity.
Wilmer Ramon Esteban Felipe – Q’anjob’al
Translation Note: This interview was originally conducted in Spanish and has been translated into English for this website. The translation is intended to preserve the interviewee’s original meaning and responses as accurately as possible.
VRS: What is your full name, and where were you born and where do you currently reside?
WR: My name is Wilmer Ramon Esteban Felipe and I was born in Aldea Nuca in Barrillas Huehuetenango, Guatemala and I live here in Hickory, NC.
VRS: What Indigenous or heritage language do you speak?
WR: The language I speak from Guatemala is Q’anjob’al.
VRS: How did you learn this language?
WR: I learned it from my family because in the town I’m from, most people speak the Mayan language Q’anjob’al.
VRS: Do you regularly speak this language in your day-to-day life? If so, who do you speak it with?
WR: When I was younger yes, since it is my native language, but now that I moved here to the US, I only speak it with my parents once in a while.
VRS: What has your experience been speaking this language in North Carolina?
WR: Well right now it’s good because I have co-workers who speak the same language as me.
VRS: Have you noticed a decline or increase in the number of speakers? Why do you think that is?
WR: Yes, a lot because nowadays with technology, and social media, the kids born now have a lot of technology and they don’t want to speak the language, or they do speak it and it’s half Spanish and half Q’anjob’al and they don’t speak it at 100% like the natives from before.
VRS: How do you feel about speaking your language in public? Why?
WR: Well I feel good because my Spanish is a little off so I like that I speak another language apart from it.
VRS: What do you think North Carolina could do to encourage or promote the speaking of Indigenous and heritage languages?
WR: Maybe I think if there were more events for the people to get together and celebrate, either at school or if there was some sort of organization I feel like that would work, but if not then no.
VRS: Has your relationship with your language changed over time? If so, how?
WR: Yes, because now I’m not like when I’m in Guatemala. In my community, the people speak the language at 100%, but now I’ve been here for 13 years so now there are words that I do not remember in my language.
VRS: How do younger generations in your community engage with the language?
WR: Well right now it’s not bad, the only thing is that they don’t speak it at 100%, like I said, they will mix both Q’anjob’al and Spanish, so there have been changes.
VRS: What advice would you give to someone interested in learning your language?
WR: Maybe getting to know the community or the culture it would be more interesting to know the language or getting to know the people who live in the community too.
VRS: What do you wish more people knew about Indigenous and heritage languages?
WR: Maybe just wanting more people to know about the culture because in that way they can see there is more to get to know.
In the audio above Wilmer shared a short phrase in Q’anjob’al that means “Thank you“.
