In a Kolax. Sa'ri'ab'i.

Any guesses? C'mon, make an effort? Alright -- but it was an easy one -- the answer is: "I am Nicholas. What is your name?"

Spanish may be the language you associate with Guatemala, but there are also 22 different Maya languages, plus Garifuna and Xinca. In my department, Baja Verapaz, the mother tongue is Maya Achi. We've recently started taking lessons. I don't anticipate that I will be holding my own with the vendors in the market anytime soon, but it always serves as a good first impression if you can speak a little of the local lengua. Speaking a bit of the local dialect on my tiny Japanese island, Okinoerabu, always got me a few pats on the back and occassionally a beer or two.

Rather than brag about how well I'm excelling -- something I am far from doing -- I thought I'd share a few useful phrases I've learned. I'll put the meanings in English and Spanish (sorry don't have the Japanese feature on this computer), but I'm going to leave the pronunciations up to you. Feel free to post your phoenetic pronunciations. I'll put the answers up later.

Achi - Spanish - English
Taa'/Aay/Cha'an laa - Hola - Hello
(Taa' is for a single man, Aay for a single woman
and Cha'an Laa for a married person)

Sa'ri'anoom. - ¿Cómo estás? - How are you?
Utz. Maltyoox. - Bien. Gracias. - Good. Thank You.
Jay ri at. - ¿Y tú? - And you?

Kwaj wa. - Quiero tortillas. - I want tortillas.
(very very important)

Chawila awiib. - Adios. - Bye.

Yeah, I know that was pretty simple, but try pronouncing those words, keeping in mind that the apostrophe is a sound as well. Buen Suerte/Good Luck.

Kolax