Language quiz

Here’s a recording in a mystery language.

Can you identify the language, and do you know where it’s spoken?

Comments (6)

Vijay JohnJuly 1st, 2012 at 2:05 pm

I would say this is definitely a South American language, with influence from Spanish. It might be Tupi-Guarani, but it might not be, and it’s most likely not Guarani. It has syllable-final “r”s and repetitions of “ayan.”

AndrewJuly 2nd, 2012 at 4:03 am

I definitely heard “Jesucristo” and “Dios” (and “amigo”?), so I concur with the Spanish influence. Throwing random guesses out there: Quechua, or Aymara?

Vijay JohnJuly 2nd, 2012 at 5:40 am

It’s definitely not either of those, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not a Tupi-Guarani language, either. I think I’ve ruled out a few of the Panoan languages (Shipibo, Cacataibo a.k.a. “Cashibo,” Cashinahua, and Isconahua), but it’s definitely a language spoken in the Amazon (with heavy Spanish influence).

SimonJuly 2nd, 2012 at 7:47 pm

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in Central America, not South America.

Vijay JohnJuly 3rd, 2012 at 3:27 am

Aw, MAN! Boy, was I wrong! And I thought I was getting closer…I wonder why so many of these languages sound to me like Guarani! (Mind you, a lot of them don’t).

Anyway, now I know what language it is. It’s Chorti.

SimonJuly 3rd, 2012 at 9:13 am

Vijay John is right – the answer is Ch’orti’, a Mayan language spoken in Guatemala and Honduras.

The recording comes from the GRN (The Prodigal Son).