Mochó, the language that is condemned to become extinct
He mocho, also known as Cotoque, Qatok or Motozintleco, is a language that belongs to the Mayan language family. This language is spoken in some neighborhoods of the municipality of Motozintla, Chiapas.
The members of these communities call themselves mochos or motozintelcos.. It should be noted that the National Institute of Indigenous Languages identified that Qato'k has two variants: Mochó and Tuzanteco.
according to the book Mochó Stories of CONACULTA, in 2000 there were 500 speakers. However, By 2010 the number of registered speakers was only 141.
And although that figure has not been updated, it is easy to deduce, based on the evidence, that it surely decreased as a consequence of the discrimination that our indigenous peoples continue to suffer.
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Characteristics
The most representative gastronomic delight of the mochos is the ritual drink called puzunke. This is prepared from zacatito powder, citul, pepper, anise, pericón, chili, chocolate, ginger, among other ingredients. Puzunke is consumed during the festival of San Francisco.
This indigenous town also has a group of dancers, which is made up of 19 members who perform for seven years at the San Francisco festival. They wear colorful and beautiful costumes.
The origin of the moon, a traditional story of the Mochó language
The following story was compiled by Perla Petrich of the General Directorate of Popular Cultures and is found in the book Languages of Mexico (Mochó Stories) by CONACULTA
The moon was a lady who had two children; These went to work the cornfield and had a lot of work. At home she prepared very little food for them. She had a pot full of stew but she gave them very little to eat.
––We act as if we were sleeping ––said the children––, so we will wait to see who is coming.
They lay down and pretended to be sleeping, like they were snoring. They saw a tapir animal enter. Then the mother set the table and the food. The animal and the woman began to eat.
“He is our father, but we don't care,” said the children. They went back to work. One brother said to the other:
––Go to town and buy a big stick. They made a trap for the animal with it. Let's see if he falls into the trap, said the brothers.
The tapir passed by and died in the trap. The brothers returned to their house. They pretended to sleep, while her mother waited for the tapir, but she, despite waiting for her, did not arrive. That's how the mother was until the moment she crowed the rooster. The mother began to cry and no longer prepared any more food.
––You killed your father––he said to the children. –How cool? ––they asked––we have not seen our father. If our father exists, why don't we eat with him?
The next day, when they went to work, they saw the animal upside down and with a stick they threw it into the ravine. The woman arrived crying and they asked her:
––Why are you crying mom?
––I won't make any more food, you killed your father, it's better that you go catch crabs on the river bank.
Then the sons went and made a great fire.
“Now, children,” said the woman, “don't delay, put the crabs on the fire.”
The children put them on the fire so that they cooked well.
“Blow out that fire,” said the mother.
When the crabs were blown, they began to burst and hit his eyes. The brothers screamed and jumped. They began to catch birds with their hands. Since then they have been monkeys and ran away. That lady cried and cried seeing her children turned into monkeys. She then hid in the river and there she became the moon. From there God took her out and took her to heaven.
Stephanie Cisneros Lover of literature, photography and discovering the treasures of Mexico.