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Tïjonïk 3 Rutzil wachaj (Greetings)

Introduction

This unit introduces the most common greeting formulas. Click on each text, listen to the audio and read along. Repeat each formula aloud paying attention to Juan Manuel’s intonation. Finally, you will also learn several common K’iche’ names.

TZIJONIKText

Le ali, al Tara le ub’i’. Pa le  nima tinamit Boston kape wi re le amaq’ Estados Unidos. Ri are’ tijoxel re k’iche’ pa le tinamit Nawalja’. Je wa’ kub’an ri are’ che uya’ik jun rutzil wachaj pa k’iche’ ch’ab’al:

This is Tara. She is from the city of Boston in the United States. She’s a student of K’iche’ in the town of Nahualá. This is how she greets Nan Mariy in K’iche’:

KEMCHI’Grammar

The following are common greeting formulas:

Saqirik!
Good morning!
Xb’e q’ij!
Good afternoon!
Xok aq’ab’!
Good evening!
Jeb’a’!
Good bye!
Tat
sir
Nan
ma’am
Ala
boy
Ali
girl
Saqirik tat!
Good morning, sir!
Xb’e q’ij nan!
Good afternoon, ma’am!
Xok aq’ab’ ali!
Good evening, girl!

Social status and greetings in K’iche’
K’iche’ has different formal and colloquial address forms. In Nahualá, formal address is required to engage town elders, family in-laws, school teachers, the elderly, church leaders (Catholic priests, catechists, Evangelical pastors) as well as civil authorities (town mayor, departmental governor and other high government officials). Formal address is also used to address God and other divine beings in religious ritual. It is required to address adult audiences in public functions such as school graduations, political speeches and masses. Finally, it is commonly used in radio broadcasts to address listeners. Colloquial forms are expected in informal conversations between kin -except between in-laws- as well as between friends. They are also used in market transactions and in brief exchanges between strangers of the same social status.

Watch each of the following short videos paying special attention to the greetings the speakers utilize.

Informal greeting

A: Xb’e q’ij!
Good afternoon!
B: Xb’e q’ij
Good afternoon!
A: La utz awach?
How are you?
B: Utz maltyox- E k’u ri at – La utz awach?
Well, thank you – And you? – How are you?
A: Utz maltyox!
Well, thank you!

Formal greeting (addressed to persons of high social status such as in-laws and town authorities)

A: Saqirik!
Good morning!
B: Saqirik!
Good morning!
A: La utz wach la?
How are you (formal)?
B: Utz maltyox- E k’u ri lal- La utz wach la?
Well, thank you! – And you? – How are you?
A: Utz maltyox!
Well, thank you!

K’iche’ first names

First names are preceded by a particle known as nominal classifier that indicates gender and marital status of the name holder. Most common first names are phonologically adapted Spanish names.

 

K’iche’ first name classifiers masculine feminine
children / young adults a al
older adults / married tat nan

Some common first names in Nahualá

a Wel (Manuel)
al We’l (Manuela)
tat Xwan (Juan)
nan Xwa’n  (Juana)
a Pal (Gaspar)
al Xe’p  (Isabel)
tat Si’s (Francisco)
nan Ska’ (Francisca)
a Lu’ (Pedro)
al Kante’l  (Candelaria)
tat Ku’ (Domingo)
nan Talin (Catarina)
a Tun (Antonio)
al Re’n (Lorenza)
nan Mari’y (Maria)

Jas ab’i’, ali/ala?
What your-name, girl/boy/child?
What is your name?

Jas b’i’ la, tat?

What your-name (formal), Sir?
What is your name, Sir?

_________ le nub’i’
_________ this my-name
My name is __________

Maltyox chawe! (informal)
Thank you!

Maltyox che la! (formal)
Thank you!

Maj kab’ij la!                  Maj kub’ano!
You are welcome!         You are welcome!