Editing Chʼol language (section)

{{Short description|Mayan language of Chiapas, Mexico}}
{{About||similar terms|Chʼol (disambiguation)|and|Chol (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox language
| name             = Chʼol
| states           = [[Mexico]]
| region           = North Central [[Chiapas]], [[Tabasco]], [[Campeche]]
| ethnicity        = [[Ch'ol people]]
| speakers         = {{sigfig|254715|2}}
| date             = 2020 census
| ref              = <ref>[http://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/hipertexto/todas_lenguas.htm Lenguas indígenas y hablantes de 3 años y más, 2020]. INEGI. Censo de Población y Vivienda 2020.</ref>
| familycolor      = Mayan
| fam1             = [[Mayan languages|Mayan]]
| fam2             = Cholan–Tzeltalan
| fam3             = [[Ch'olan languages|Cholan]]
| fam4             = Chol–Chontal
| dia1             = Tila
| dia2             = Tumbalá
| script           = Latin
| ancestor         = [[Classic Maya language|Classic Maya]]
| iso3             = ctu
| glotto           = chol1282
| glottorefname    = Chol
| map              = 
| notice           = IPA
| nativename       = {{lang|ctu|Lakty'añ}}
}}

The '''Ch'ol''' (Chol) language is a member of the western branch of the [[Mayan languages|Mayan language]] family used by the [[Ch'ol people]] in the [[List of states of Mexico|states]] of [[Chiapas]], [[Tabasco]], and [[Campeche]] in Mexico. This language, together with [[Chontal Maya language|Chontal]], [[Ch'orti' language|Ch'orti']], and [[Ch'olti' language|Ch'olti']], constitute the [[Ch'olan languages|Cholan language group]].<ref>Vázquez Álvarez, Juan Jesús. ''A Grammar of Chol, a Mayan Language''. Austin, Texas: University of Texas at Austin, 2011; p. 3.</ref>

The  Cholan branch of the Mayan languages is considered to be particularly [[conservative (language)|conservative]] and Ch'ol along with its two closest relatives the [[Ch'orti' language]] of [[Guatemala]] and [[Honduras]], and the [[Chontal Maya language]] of [[Tabasco]] are believed to be the modern languages that best reflect their relationship with the [[Classic Maya language]].<ref name=":0">Houston, S., O. Chinchilla, Stuart D. "The Decipherment of Ancient Maya Writing", U. of Oklahoma Press, 2001.</ref>

Ch'ol-language programming is carried by the [[National Institute of Indigenous Peoples|CDI]]'s radio station [[XEXPUJ-AM]], broadcasting from [[Xpujil]], [[Campeche]].