Languages
Pages
Legal
The intersection of language, culture and healthcare in Maya Guatemala
Peter Rohloff, MD PhD
Medical Director
Wuqu’ Kawoq | Maya Health Alliance
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
-5 -4.5 -4 -3.5 -3 -2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Z-score
Frequency
www.abc.com
www.wikipedia.org
Patients
No food
No work
No education Language barriers
Services
“Ignorant” “Lazy”
“Unmotivated” “Backwards”
“Roj öj mayab’ – oj mestan kan”
Why Mayan Languages?
1) Ri jun chi ri jun yawa’ jeb’el nutzijoj pe achike ri q’axomal ruchajin (The patient should be able to easily communicate with the doctor)
2) Ri jun chik chi ma nqamestaj ta ri qatzij (The active maintenance and recovery of speech)
Tummons et al 2011
Language Loss and Health
1) Language barriers = poor health
2) Language loss = “glass ceiling” = poor health
Unintelligible Spanish
Loan Word
Neologism Gloss
Diabetes Rujotolem rukab’il kik’ Height of the blood’s
sugar
Artritis Rusipojik baq’ The bone’s swelling
Infección urinaria Itzel chuluj Bad urine
Vagina Rub’ey ri ne’y The path of the baby
Colesterol Ruq’anal kik’ The blood’s marrow
Asma Rutzapatajik pospo’y Closing-off of the lungs
“Behavior Change” is a Linguistic Problem
Tummons et al 2008
Why Does Civil Society Matter?
Top Related