Escritura maya de niños hablantes de maya y alfabetizados en español

Abstract

This study deals with the problems involved in the learning to read and write in a bilingual context (Mayan/Spanish). We interviewed 22 children; students at the local elementary school. All of them were Mayan native speakers. Their oral proficiency in Spanish was sufficient enough to enable us to conduct the interviews in Spanish. Although these children received no formal instmction in written Mayan; we asked them to write twenty words in their native language. We were interested in to see whether a) children were willing to write in their native language b) if they use the information they have of Spanish orthography when writing Mayan; and whether they find this information pertinent and sufficient. Specifically; we were interested to know how these children represented phonemes that are not part of the Spanish language. Results show that children are enthusiastic about writing in Mayan. Also; the regularities found in their ‘invented " orthography show a highly developed phonological and orthographical awareness.