Creation of linguistic landscapes using ancient and contemporary Mayan writing

José Alfredo Hau is a Mayan language digital activism fellow

Written by
josealfredohaucaamal

Translated by
Teodora C. Hasegan
Translation posted 26 August 2022 17:10 GMT



Chichimilá, Yucatán, where the digital activism project will be carried out. Photograph by José Alfredo Hau Caamal. Used with permission.



Name: Jose Alfredo Hau Caamal
Language: Maya
Location: Chichimila, Yucatan



Project summary:
Creation of linguistic landscapes using ancient and contemporary Mayan writing through OpenStreetMap (OSM).

Bix a beele'ex, in k'aaba'e’ Alfredo Hau. Táan in jo'olintik u meyajil: U chíikulil boonil úuchben maayats'íib yéetel u t'aanil maaya kaaj tu péepet boonil openstreetmaps.

My name is José Alfredo Hau Caamal, I am 36 years old and I belong to the Mayan-speaking community X-Alau in the municipality of Chemax in Yucatán. I currently live in Chichimilá, Yucatán.

I teach the children of the community how to decipher hieroglyphs. I am also a freelance translator from Spanish into Mayan on various topics, and I create projects focused on language and culture.

My project

This digital activism project is based on the teaching of ancient Mayan writing known as úuchben ts'íib, epigraphy, hieroglyphic writing, Mayan glyphs or, as scholars say, the classic Mayan writing system. Being proud of our legacy as a point of reference for this project is fundamental so that the Mayan language can be used in spaces of interaction and that the community members can see it represented on signs, posters, inscriptions or on any physical surface.

My project includes creating linguistic landscapes using ancient and contemporary Mayan writing through OpenStreetMap, as well as creating locations, routes and itineraries using the linguistic landscape of the community to strengthen the language and revitalize the ancient Mayan writing. It also includes training children, youth, and adults in the use of the writing system to create posters, murals, signs, advertisements and signage for public spaces and uploading them to OpenStreetMap to highlight the spaces of common use, and historical places with names given by the community.

More:
https://rising.globalvoices.org/blog/2022/08/26/creation-of-linguistic-landscapes-using-ancient-and-contemporary-mayan-writing/