Tojolab’al Interpreters and Translators: A Quick Guide
Maya Bridge Language Services
The nation's leading provider for indigenous language services with on-demand support in over 80 indigenous languages.
As the Tojolab’al people increasingly migrate to the United States for safety, economic opportunities, and a better quality of life, language access is one of their biggest obstacles. This is where Tojolab’al interpreters step in and help migrants integrate safely into their new surroundings.
For the Tojolab’al, whose cultural and linguistic heritage has stood the test of time, interpreters play a major role in bridging the gap between their traditional ways of life and the challenges of modern migration.
This blog explores the Tojolab’al language, why the Tojolab’al are migrating, and the support interpreters can provide them as they settle in the United States.
Who speaks Tojolab’al?
The Tojolab’al language, also sometimes spelled Tojol-ab’al, is spoken in Chiapas, southeastern Mexico, near the Guatemalan border. There are upwards of 67,000 speakers of Tojolab’al, according to 2020 census data, although accurate estimates are likely higher. The name "Tojolab’al" translates to "straight talk" or "true word," derived from tojol (true, correct, just) and ab’al (speech, word). The Tojolab’al people call themselves as "Tojolwinik'otik", meaning "legitimate or real men."
Tojolab’al belongs to the Mayan language family and is most closely related to Chuj, despite the relatively large geographic distance between the two languages. Tojolab’al is relatively uniform with no major geographical variants.?
The fertile lands surrounding Comitán de Domínguez, located in the present-day state of Chiapas, attracted Spanish invaders early in the colonial period. After the Spanish conquest in 1528, Tojolab'al communities were subjected to exploitation, land expropriation, and oppression, which continues to this day. Since the arrival of the Spanish, they have also undergone Ladinization (forced cultural assimilation) and displacement, all while losing significant amounts of their ancestral lands and culture.
A pivotal moment in Tojolab’al history took place during the 1990s, when they joined the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) in Chiapas. The Indigenous-led movement, which launched on January 1, 1994 and coincided with the introduction of NAFTA, advocated for Indigenous rights, improved living conditions, land reform, and political autonomy. Despite some reforms, Indigenous communities continue to experience economic challenges, land conflicts, and societal marginalization.
Agriculture is central to Tojolab’al culture, with maize as their primary crop. Many, if not most, families grow their own food, selling any surplus for income. They still use traditional farming methods such as milpa, in which land is cultivated for two years and then left fallow for eight years in order to regenerate naturally.
To supplement their income, many Tojolab’al families engage in small-scale commerce and wage labor. They sell surplus crops, raise livestock, and handicrafts like embroidered textiles and ceramics. They also work as seasonal laborers on coffee plantations, maize farms, cattle ranches, sugar mills, and construction sites. Men may also migrate for work four to eight months annually, leaving women to manage farming and household responsibilities.
Why are the Tojolab’al migrating?
Tojolab'al migration stems from a complex combination of historical injustices, extreme poverty, and armed conflict. The violence in Chiapas escalates every year and many people are forced to leave in search of safety and a better future.
Chiapas has been severely impacted by violence, agrarian conflict, natural disasters, and large-scale government projects since the 1950s. Over the years, criminal organizations, paramilitary groups, and land disputes have accelerated this unrest.?
The first major cases of displacement in Chiapas also began in the 1950s, with several cases linked to the development of hydroelectric dams and oil wells in addition to religious persecution and natural disasters. There was an increase in the number of cases in the 1990s following the armed uprising of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN). Thousands fled their homes to escape bombings, violent conflict between the EZLN and the Guatemalan Army, and political violence. Many never returned, and were left to choose between being housed in overcrowded shelters, living under constant threat from paramilitary groups, or migrating to seek refuge abroad.
As organized crime has increased in Chiapas, the living conditions have worsened. Rival cartels fight for control of the transport routes that run along Chiapas’ 400-mile border with Guatemala, which is a major transit point for smuggling cocaine, weapons, and migrants. It is also one of Mexico's most dangerous zones. At least 16,000 people have been displaced by cartel violence, with Indigenous communities, including the Tojolab'al, being the most affected.?
Chiapas, as a whole, is experiencing severe instability. Apart from being Mexico’s poorest state, it has been ravaged by armed conflict for over 30 years. Paramilitaries, guerrilla groups, self-defense forces, and soldiers have virtually transformed the area into an ongoing war zone. Recent years have seen criminal activity worsen the region, with armed militants involved in kidnappings, car thefts, and extortion. Meanwhile, cases of femicides, disappearances, and violence continue to increase. Communities are also dealing with a spike in alcohol and drug abuse, as well as mental health crises.?
The Roles And Importance Of Tojolab’al Interpreters
Tojolab’al interpreters help migrants to express themselves and understand the information they are given, allowing them to better advocate for themselves and make more informed decisions.
Interpreters act as trusted guides for Tojolab’al migrants, guiding them through the complex U.S. immigration system, and helping them get access to medical, legal, and social services. In settings like doctor's appointments, immigration proceedings, and court hearings, qualified Tojolab’al interpreters are indispensable.?
Besides providing language assistance, interpreters are also integral to intercultural communication. Having an interpreter who understands both American and Tojolab’al cultures can help make communication smoother and less stressful for both sides.
Tojolab'al interpreters are extremely rare in the U.S. This is largely because there are a small number of speakers, limited Tojolab’al interpretation training programs, and strict legal requirements for interpreters. These barriers leave many Tojolab’al speakers without access to essential services like healthcare and legal aid.
Without language support, Tojolab’al speakers face serious risks, including medical misdiagnosis, unfair asylum rulings, and wrongful deportations. The importance of language access goes beyond fairness, it is indispensable to their safety and inclusion in U.S. society.
Work With A Tojolab’al Interpreter from Maya Bridge?
At Maya Bridge, we offer language services for Tojolab’al and all of its variants to provide your organization with comprehensive linguistic support. Since 2021, we have provided Tojolab’al to English interpretation to countless government agencies, healthcare organizations, and courts. As a small, niche interpretation agency specializing in Latin American Indigenous languages, we are uniquely equipped to offer on-demand Tojolab’al interpretation, 24 hours a day.
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Learn more about our language services here.?
Maya Bridge - A Leading Advocate For Latin American Indigenous Language Access In The U.S.
Since 2021, Maya Bridge Language Services has been advocating for increased access for speakers of Mayan and other Latin American and global Indigenous languages here in the United States. Maya Bridge is a mission-driven, niche interpretation agency offering 24/7 on-demand services for over 60 Indigenous languages from Latin America, as well as African, Asian, Pacific Island, Native American, and other Indigenous languages.?
We have worked diligently to mobilize, train, and evaluate a network of hundreds of interpreters both in the U.S. and throughout the world to ensure that speakers of Indigenous languages can fully understand and be understood in important situations like healthcare, legal settings, in disaster and emergency response scenarios, and in receiving access to government programs.?
Contact us to schedule a meeting or call us anytime, day or night, at (801) 753-8568.?