Salvador Elias T.

The fundamental mistake in approaching indigenous language translation is assuming it is identical to translating between two standard languages like Spanish and English. This assumption is incorrect. When working specifically with Mayan language translation (K’iche’) for example, a frequent source of error and confusion arises from conflating the act of translation with the goal of language revitalization. It is crucial to understand that translating a document, video, audio, or any other material from English to K'iche' is not the same as revitalizing that language. Furthermore, due to complex linguistic realities, indigenous speakers today often integrate Spanish words into their everyday communication. A good translation must acknowledge and navigate these unique sociolinguistic factors. As a native K'iche speaker, with C2 level proficiency in Spanish and fluency in English, I provide cultural authenticity and deep linguistic context in my translations. Ignoring these critical linguistic and cultural factors leads to catastrophic misinterpretation, fatal diagnostic errors, and an irreversible miscarriage of justice