Chontal Maya language

This article is about the language spoken by the Chontal Maya people of Tabasco. For the languages of the Oaxaca Chontal people, see Tequistlatecan languages.
Chontal Maya
Yokotʼan
Pronunciation[jɔʔkɔʔtʼan]
Native toMexico
RegionNorth central and southern Tabasco
EthnicityChontal Maya
Native speakers
61,000 (2020 census)[1]
Mayan
  • Cholan–Tzeltalan
    • Cholan
      • Chol–Chontal
        • Chontal Maya
Dialects
  • Nacajuca / Central Yokotʼan / Central Chontal of Tabasco
  • Tamulte / Eastern Yokotʼan / Eastern Chontal of Tabasco
  • Macuspana / Southern Yokotʼan / Southern Chontal
  • Centla / Northern Yokotʼan / Northern Chontal
Language codes
ISO 639-3chf
Glottologtaba1266
ELPChontal de Tabasco

Yokotʼan (self-denomination), also known as Chontal Maya, is a Maya language of the Cholan family spoken in 2020 by around 60,000 Chontal Maya people of the Mexican state of Tabasco.[1] According to the National Catalog of Indigenous Languages of Mexico-INALI, Yokotʼan has at least four dialects: Nacajuca (Central), Centla (Northern), Macuspana (Southern) and Tamulte (Eastern).

  1. ^ a b Lenguas indígenas y hablantes de 3 años y más, 2020 INEGI. Censo de Población y Vivienda 2020.