Bachajón Tzeltal

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Bachajón Tzeltal
Spoken in:	Mexico (Chiapas)
Total speakers:	100,000 (1993 SIL)
Language family:	American Mayan Cholan-Tzeltalan Tzeltalan Bachajón Tzeltal
Writing system:	Latin alphabet
Official status
Official language in:	None
Regulated by:	none
Language codes
ISO 639-1:	none
ISO 639-2:	`tzb`
ISO 639-3:	`tzb` –
Note: This page may contain IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode.

Bachajón Tzeltal (also known as Lowland Tzeltal and Tzeltal de Ocosingo) is an indigenous American language spoken by thousands of aboriginal people in Chilón and Ocosingo municipalities in the eastern portion of the Mexican state of Chiapas. Half of speakers are monolingual and everyday usage is vigorous; there is a positive Bachajón Tzeltal language attitude. Some people also speak Spanish now, this is increasing amongst the young; half use it as a second language. 500 people also speak Ch'ol. There is some minor usage of the tongue in government-funded education. Used in everyday life from commerce to religious activities orally and written word. It is also used in radio programs, and a dictionary exists. About half the population many are literate, 50% can read while one 40% can write. Some people speak a dialect called Amatenango del Valle. ^[1]