The Project on a Mission to Transform Mayan Language Access

The Mayan Languages Digitization and Preservation Project, spearheaded by project director Dr. Winston K. Scott, is a groundbreaking initiative which aims to preserve the rich linguistic heritage of Mayan languages like K’iche’, Q’eqchi’, Mam, and Chuj, while making significant strides in language access within the United States. Project efforts highlight a future where interpreters for indigenous languages are not only more numerous but also better equipped with standardized terminologies and digital tools.

Mayan Languages Digitization and Preservation Project

The Mayan Languages Digitization and Preservation Project is a pioneering initiative dedicated to preserving and promoting the Mayan languages. Through an online, open-source glossary and collaboration with technology partners, the project aims to empower Mayan communities by bridging the digital divide and providing access to essential information, education, healthcare, and legal services.

Before the inception of this project, the landscape for Mayan language speakers, particularly in the U.S., was bleak. Dr. Scott paints a vivid picture of the past, noting, “the resources for Mayan language speakers, especially in terms of certified interpreters and legal terminology, were virtually non-existent.” In an enlightening conversation with MasterWord, the project’s primary sponsor, Dr. Scott shed light on the project’s ambitious goals and the challenges surmounted in creating an open-source glossary for Mayan languages, emphasizing the dire need for a standardized linguistic framework to ensure equitable access to education, healthcare, and legal services.

Pedro Tambriz Och
Dr. Scott with project moderator Pedro Tambriz Och and family

Dr. Scott highlights the initiative’s focus on professionalizing Mayan language interpreters, crucial for accurate communication in various professional settings. By standardizing terminologies and developing rigorous training, the project seeks to elevate the quality of Mayan interpretation services to the level of any other language, thus addressing a significant gap in the language services. “If you have 20 interpreters in an immigration court and they’re all using a different word for asylum… it doesn’t work. Where terms don’t exist, we need to work together to come to an agreement among native speakers on how those terms should be expressed consistently.” Dr. Scott adds, “We’re not just saving languages; we’re enabling a dialogue.”

“What we’re doing is we’re gathering and we’re codifying… to aid everyone,” Dr. Scott shares with an infectious enthusiasm. The project’s impact extends beyond the confines of Mayan communities, offering a blueprint for digital inclusion efforts worldwide.

The Mayan Languages Digitization and Preservation Project is not just preserving languages; it’s empowering communities and setting a precedent for the future of language services. It’s a promise that more interpreters are on the way, equipped with the tools and training to provide accurate and respectful services, ensuring that every voice, no matter how historically marginalized, is heard and understood. Through the collective efforts of expert Mayan speakers working as project moderators and contributors, the project is paving the way for a more inclusive and accessible digital future for other efforts in support of language access for indigenous language speakers.

Winston K. Scott, Ph.D., cultural anthropologist and Director of the Mayan Languages Digitization and Preservation Project, has dedicated over 28 years to research and engagement within Mayan language communities. His work spans sociolinguistic mobilization, traditional religious systems, and providing access to essential services for indigenous Guatemalan immigrants in their native languages. 

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