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Although the official language is Spanish, it is not universally spoken among the indigenous population, or is often spoken as a second language; 23 distinct Mayan languages are still spoken, especially in rural areas. The Peace Accords signed in December 1996 provide for the translation of some official documents and voting materials into several indigenous languages, and mandate the provision of interpreters in legal cases for non Spanish speakers. The accord also sanctioned the teaching of bilingual education in Spanish and indigenous languages. It is very rare, however, for Spanish-speaking Guatemalans to learn or speak one or more of the nation's other languages. |
Guatemala Information: Inside
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