Expanding My Vocabulary

Learning a new language is always tough.  I've got three years working on Kaqchikel and I'm just getting to where I don't have to have a translator.



While a lot of people have taught me, most all of my real Kaqchikel learning has come from this woman--Ixkamey.  She has taught me nearly everything I know and her patience is incredible.

Perhaps most importantly, she's let me become part of her family.  We joke that I'm the taller, whiter sister.

This year has been no exception.  Some of the gems I've learned this year:

wuxtuxil- my heal

ruqül nuq'ab- my wrist

päk- the scaly dry skin on one's heal

xiq'ol kan- I was deceived

xajan- a sin

e tioxi'- twins (people)

patax- twins (fruit)

peyon- contract worker

tzaqät- even

ninbutz' wuq'- I pleat my skirt

I don't know how many times I'll work päk into my interviews, but at least now I know if someone is talking about how scaly my skin is.

"Professional Blog"

I'm setting up a "professional" blog about researching and what not.  Here is the link...

http://pajotol.wordpress.com/

¡Xokoq'a k'a!

...that's Kaqchikel for Good Night!  Our first test is tomorrow. So tonight I am switching between studying for it and reading Bourdieu and Tedlock.  It's been a nice balance between my old life and my new one. Thanks to West Coast folks for prepping me so well for PhDlandia. 

Also, had an interesting exchange with a MA student I teach with:
She was complaining about Foucault and she summed it up like this: "Everything is muddled.  Ohh power and knowledge.  Whatever, he died of AIDS..."
Simply Stunning! (She doesn't think she'll go on for the PhD!)

More Kaqchikel