Indigenous Linguistic Revitalization and Outsider Interaction: The Itzaj Maya Case

Indigenous languages and cultures are under threat of extinction as never before. Cultural revitalization and language renewal are increasingly linked to environmental conservation. In this context anthropologists and linguists are increasingly involved in both revitalization and conservation efforts. These efforts often have the opposite effects of those intended. The Itzaj Maya case is examined below to outline the dynamics of revitalization, conservation, and development in the Peten, Guatemala, including potential dangers of outsider involvement and guidelines for participation in indigenous revitalization movements.