Languages of the Tribal Peoples

Languages of the San Quintin valley 

The San Quintin valley lies between the Sierra Madre mountain range and the Pacific Ocean some 70 miles south of Ensenada. It stretches some 60 miles long and 40 miles wide. This valley produces the most tomatoes in North America. Strawberries, raspberries, and vegetables of all varieties are also grown in large fields.

Migel - Triqui Translator

Young men and women and families arrive in the rancher owned school buses from southern states of Mexico to work. Many of these people speak their native languages as primary language. The largest language groups are the Mixtec, Zapoteco, and Triqui peoples.

There are an estimated 60 different dialects of these major language groups spoken in the valley during harvesting season.  That is no suprise because there are more than 1000 different indigenous dialects and languages in Mexico.  Towns can be only miles apart and cannot speak to each other in their native tongue.

Local radio stations feature programs spoken in various dialects. Bible translator groups work in the valley bringing God’s word to these people groups that could not easily be reached in their own villages.

Several churches in the valley have come together to try and start a Christian radio station that will broadcast to many of the major language groups.  We are praying that the license for the station will be obtained in the year 2012.

Miguel in the picture above is the "voice of the Triqui" because he is working with Allan Lee and translating and recording in audio the scriptures into the Triqui (tree-kee) tongue.  Triqui is a very difficult language and very tonal.  It sounds very Asian.   Allan Lee is one of our Instructors at IBB.