Talk:Mayan languages/Language name Orthography, ALMG and Cordemex debate

message: This resource really should be mentioned---there isn't much reference on the web about this dictionary—The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.176.186.65 (talk • contribs) 22 May 2006.
:By all means, if you have the information, feel free to add something about it.--cjllw | TALK 23:57, 21 May 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I agree that this would be an important resource to mention.  I'll see if there's a good spot to enter this info (if I have time this x-mas break). Chunchucmil 13:14, 26 December 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: You did it, I attempted to reedit it to remove my original less-well-founded text, see what you think. --Homunq 17:21, 26 December 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Cordomex

message: This is a proposal to rename a number of articles on individual Mayan languages to a standardised orthography. Discussion for these moves is centralised here (note that a rename of this particular article, Mayan languages, is not part of the proposal).
This proposal combines several principles:
#That the languages' names be standardised according to the orthography conventions adopted and preferred by the Academia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala (ALMG), a (or the) recognised authority for these languages. Rationale: it provides a consistent standard recognised in the field and is (increasingly frequently) employed by major english-language sources often cited in Maya-related articles; see also WP:MESO/G for some further background.
#That gendered endings (eg -o, -a) not be used. Rationale: not warranted in an english language context.
#That each language article title be of the form xx language. Rationale: following widely-observed practice for articles on languages generally, and to readily distinguish from articles on the peoples themselves.
See also the discussion above.
Articles affected by the proposal, and their currently designated targets, are as follows:       
*Akateko to Akatek language
*Awakateko to Awakatek language
*Cakchiquel language to Kaqchikel language
*Chicomuceltec to Chicomuceltec language Extinct language so per #3 only
*Chorti language to Ch'orti' language
*Huastec language to Wastek language NB: Huastec language currently only a rdir to Huastec, an article more on the culture than the language
*Itza language to Itza' language
*Ixil to Ixil language per #3 only; no spelling changes
*Jacaltec language to Jakaltek language
*Kekchi language to Q'eqchi' language NB: Kekchi language redirects to Q'eqchi, per proposal this should be moved (missing final " ' " and "language")
*Lacandon language UNCHANGED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ENDONYMIC, CHECK ME EXPERTS
*Mopan Maya to Mopan language
*Quiché language to K'iche' language
*Tektiteko to Tektitek language
*Tz'utujil to Tz'utujil language not required, already named per ALMG (and Tz'utujil is separate article on the people)
*Uspanteko to Uspantek language
*Yucatec Maya language to Yukatek language
*Yucatec Maya Sign Language to Yukatek Sign Language See below, this is a separate issue.
** The primary rationale for this move is to bring things in line with the ALMG conventions, see guideline in WP:MESO/G. While we're at it, we might as well standardize on not including the Spanish-style gendered endings (already the case for the larger languages), and using the "xx language" form (not "maya" which should be "mayan" anyway).-- Homunq 22:22, 14 August 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  I needed to comment on the switch from "Yucatec" to "Yukatek".  I studied and speak Yucatec Maya (as a scholar, but not a native speaker).  However, I have lived and worked with the Maya people for nearly two decades.  And I must say that this Wiki-Meso decision to switch to the modern revisionist Guatemalan spelling is surprising.  I fully understand if a linguist would like to "purify" the spellings in their own articles.  But for an encyclopedia, isn't the goal not to "break new ground" but to "inform the public"?  All modern Yucatec speakers who know how to read or write use the "C" for non-glottalized consonant and the "k" for the glottalized consonant.  Yucatec has two non-glottalized consonants, and therefore should be spelled with the letter "C".  But, honestly, let's forget the details (which I would gladly provide more of).  The hundreds of thousands of Maya who are now going online and getting higher educations...  They did not go to the conference in Guatemala where someone decided to re-define how they should write their language.  Please remember - their health education pamphlets, their government documents, the signs that tell them about their own past at all archaeological sites, and heck, EVEN THEIR OWN NAMES are written with the standard orthography (C not K in "Yucatan").  To allow such a revision in an encyclopedic resource would be to say that Wikipedia supports the complete revision of their current and living orthography.  This is not just an academic issue.  It is a cultural issue.  Allow Wikipedia to be accessible to all.  It is not the proper place for radical revisions of entire languages. Chunchucmil 04:26, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Proposal specifics

message: Add "* Support" or "* Oppose" followed by an optional one-sentence explanation, then sign your opinion with ~~~~
*Support, in-principle at least, per reasons cited. I think the ALMG orthography provides a clear and recognised orthographic guideline, in the absence of which the articles and mentions of these languages in en.wiki are presently all over the place.--cjllw | TALK 05:50, 15 August 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Survey

message: In Ethnologue and in the German language Wikipedia article, I notice that many of the languages have a "-ko" or "-co" ending, e.g. "Jakalteko", "Tektiteko".  Is it more common to use these "-o" endings??  Should we be using them?  I would hate to have to change the article, though.  Madman 14:45, 22 December 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  We took a decision to not use the genedered spanish endings here (idioma jakalteko but lengua jakalteka) - but that's not necesarrily true about other Wikipedias. Maunus 04:39, 24 December 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Question about language names