"Maya" or "Mayan?"

[The word] Maya is both a noun and an adjective. The word Mayan is technically correct only for the language. Thus,

"The Maya people spoke the Mayan language."

To make it all the more confusing, one of the languages is Yucatec Maya. Today, in normal American usage, Mayan is accepted as the adjective, though scholars prefer to keep to the Maya. For example:

"The Maya people built fabulous Maya pyramids while speaking Chol Mayan language with some influence
from Yucatec Maya language. These are separate
Mayan languages, not dialects."
From Maya Art and Books,
"Abstract of the Maya World."
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1 Chuwen,  19 Keh
God of the Night 5
(Monday, December 1, 2007)
Last updated 11/12/2007
Example of Late Classic Ceremonial Plate using incising and red slip. Lamanai Museum. (Photo by Aric Monts-Homkey)
CHAAK
Incense
Burner from
Mayapan.
(Photo by
Irmgard Groth)
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"Maya" or "Mayan?"


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