The background information about the Mayan language.
(Figure 2- The Mayan letters and numbers http://ambergriscaye.com/earlyhistory/art/glyph2sm.jpg)
The Mayan language was one of the prominent languages in the western sphere. This language was widely spoken in Central America. The Mayan language exists 5000 years and the main attribute of this language is that there are 22 various Mayan languages.[1] The Mayan language was very important in terms to save records about the Pre-Columbian era ( the epoch when Christopher Columbus opened America continent after 1492). However, the Mayan language differ from others language with complexity. Mayan languages consist hieroglyphics (the ancient alphabets of Mayan language with signs) but hieroglyphics were not solely element which made Mayan language complicated. In addition, the variety of pictures and signs differ Mayan languages from others languages. The other interesting attribute of Mayan language is that some dialects of Mayan languages carry out interesting tasks. Some of the dialects were used as source solely for recording birth or death of kings and to record some ancient rituals[2]. Interestingly, that numerous of glyphs ( glyph is version of ancient letters, however, unlike the today letters glyphs could be a symbol as well), were –animals, supernatural pictures, humans and etc. Today, if humans write the name of the months in calendar, at that time glyphs with pictures were used to describe the month[3]. In fact, Mayan language, culture and history became renowned after when scientists identified that Mayan calendar predicts end of the world in 2012.
Figure 3 – The Mayan hieroglyphs (http://www.ancientscripts.com/images/maya_haab.gif)
In the 16th century when Spanish invaders conquered Mayan empire, they started undermine Mayan language. Especially, Spanish government at that time ( after the conquering Mayan empire the 16th century) wiped out the vast amount of novels, annals and numerous documents in Mayan language. In addition, the civil war, genocide and poverty influence to Mayan languages, hence day by day these languages started to separate from each other.[4] Also, when Spaniards conquered Mayan empire they started divided native tribes and this act to changing some language dialects and therefore today some natives have trouble to communicate with each other. This phenomenon exacerbated recently and because of ruthless policy of ladinos ( people who lives in Latin America, local people described Spaniards as the ladinos) the regional dialects among the Mayans was divided into many parts.[5] (see 2 picture).
Figure 4 – Branches of Mayan languages
In spite of the fact that, Mayan language was one of the prominent languages in the past, today Mayan language is one of endangered languages in our earth. When Mayan language start disappear day by day many people encounter with several problems – they were isolated from the society and Mayan culture started disappear within language, however the recent projects have program how to save such languages.
The threat of Mayan language for the Mayan descendants.
Figure 5 – The Mayan language (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=6hLGmWEGBgQ)
Mayan descendants are people who have Mayan roots and today they live in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, in addition their population is more than 6 millions[6]. The native people in Guatemala was isolated from the society and government, consequently local people could not represent themselves in the society during the civil war in Guatemala. Hence, indigenous people could articulate they demand nor form the government nor from the international organizations because in 1960th Mayan language was only spoken among the locals. Therefore, this lead to generating prejudice against the Spaniards, as Rigoberta Menchumentions about the when she met Spaniard and when they became closely friend she acknowledged that not all ladinos are vicious people[7]. The Mayan language consists 22 different languages, however, after the 2000 this language was divided into the numerous part (see picture 2.) As result of these, today many Mayan tribes could not communicate with each other[8]. However, aside from that natives could communicate with each other, they also changed ancient customs and they accommodated customs to their dialects. All these acts separated local people from each other and during the civil war and hence they did unite against the ladinos. In addition, during the civil war many local people lost their own lands because government issued a decree regarding to reforms about the lands[9]. Many ladinos took advantage and their twisted local people as result they tookfruitful lands from the Mayans, the inability read laws in Spanish made natives victims of Spaniards. The other threat of Mayan language is that many annals (historical record which shows historical events sequentially) and documents were written in native language. However, today when this language disappears gradually, the ancient Mayan medicine culture, history, art and songs disappear within language as well[10]. Hence, UNUESCO (special cultural and scientific organization which has aim to preserve historical heritage of our world) put some Mayan languages into the list of most endangered languages which can disappearafter the several years.
A beacon of hope for Mayans.
Figure 6 – LearnLink project (http://dot- edu.edc.org/projects/projectsim/girls%20at%20computer.jpg)
Today, some projects have an aim to preserve Mayan language and one of these projects is LearLink[11]. LearnLink project offers save Mayan language through the technology for the Guatemalan Mayans. Firstly, project plans to assemble cultural and linguistic information in Mayan language and then to digitize all these information. Also, creating computer centers in every training school is one of the main ideas of this project. Moreover, so far equipped with 80 computers and linguistic books in many training schools. Nevertheless, internet is not available for native people until today which can engage locals with outside word, however, the project stuffs have plan to bring Internet further years. Furthermore, company created some radio programs for the native children which consist Mayan songs and stories in their own languages In addition, project stuffs already handed out special puzzles, posters and colorful books for the children. The other goal of company is that – creating teachers study group for the teachers, for teaching Mayan language. Also, project provides with numerous vocabularies, grammar books and presentations in Mayan language, in addition, company has a plan to supply teachers with numerous of journals, magazines and other items for the Mayan teachers. Judith Aissen who works is linguistic research professor in UC (University of California) has another project about the Mayan language[12]. She points out that Tzotzil language which isone of branch of Mayan language, has high possibility to disappear. Professor, claims that recently solely 250,000 people speak in this language, however, from the 1995 she took initiative and started teach local people. Moreover, she created seminars for the local university students, where she gave them analytical information for analysis. Aissen explains that when they start analysis all these information they will understand value of their indigenous language. Furthermore, the students from the seminar start to digitize Mayan language in the local community. Aissen says that “When people in a community see documenting a language as a worthwhile thing to do, it reinforces the value of the language.”Riecken Foundation is an organization which provides education for the Latin America people,also this organization prepares project for the keeping and preserving Mayan languages. One of the goals of this project is that – creating modern libraries across the Central America and therefore they created first Guatemalan library[13]. The Riecken Foundation inspire Mayans people especially people who live in a countryside to visit these libraries. They also, created numerous books in native language for the Mayan descendants and in addition organization celebrates native holidays for inspiring interest among the children. Furthermore, local artists work with organization for raising interest among the young generation. However, all these books were written in Spanish and Mayan language because the official language in Guatemala is Spanish therefore it is important for children to be bilingual.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Mayan languages passed through the centuries and despite the fact that, Mayan descendants could not engage with modern society and they lost cultural because of language, the Mayan language still keeps popularity among the natives. However, this language contributed huge cultural and historical heritage for whole world. Also, recently people start demonstrate interest to Mayan culture, hence many people and organizations involved to projects for preserving Mayan legacy.
Word Count: 1,475
1. Fooksman, Leon.“Mayan Languages: Our Diverse Culture” (January 2008) http://www.guatemalanya.org/featured/ /mayan-languages-our-diverse-culture.htm.accessed January 2008.
2. Fooksman.
3. Lawrence. Lo, “Ancient Scripts: Maya” ( January 2005) http://www.ancientscripts.com/maya.html
4. Fooksman.
5 .Rigoverta,Menchu. I, Rigoberta Mencu. London: Verso, 1983.
6. Fooksman.
7. Rigoberta 194.
8. The Yucatan Times, “The preservation of Mayan Language,” http:www.theyucatantimes.com/2011/02/the-preservation-of-the-Mayan Language,” 02 February 2011.
9. [1] Foote Dennis, “Preserving Mayan Language with Technology,” LearLInk, February 2000, http://www.learnlink.aed.org/Publications/Newsline/PDF_Newsline/Newsline_00_Winter_E.pdf LearnLink 2, no. 1
(February 2000).
10. University of California, Santa Cruz, “Saving Endangered Languages” ( Scott Rappaport and Judith Aissien,
October 2007), http://www.review.uscs.edu/fall07/text.asp?pid=1626
11. Dennis
12. University of California
13. Chowhan Ajita, “Promoting literacy and preserving tradition,” Que Pasa Magazine, July 2011. http://www.grupoquepasa.com/ngos/promoting-literacy-and-preserving-tradition.html, accessed July 2011.
Language 
Your introduction did not provide any information to connect with the broad topic; however, it did provide relevant background information about your narrowed topic: the Mayan language. You adequately paraphrased your information and provide citation. However, your references to figures is not correctly done. In your text you say (see picture 2) when you really mean to say see Figure 4. Footnotes are correctly formatted. Your thesis statement is clearly stated and contains your controlling ideas.
In your section “The threat of Mayan language for the Mayan descendants” I thought you did a great job of presenting the main threats surrounding the Mayan language and the effect on Mayans and adequately paraphrasing and citing your information. I also have the same comments concerning the section “A beacon of hope for Mayans.”
Your conclusion did mention your main points, but you could have better summarized those points. Overall, I thought your information was well ogranised. I would have liked to see you refer to your working images, but you did chose relevant media to enhance your written content.