Commodification of Kaqchikel

A Commodities Chain Approach to the Kaqchikel Language in the Foreign Language and Area Studies Program*

Abstract

Investigating how Kaqchikel is commodified through U.S. foreign language instruction programs reveals complex and often contradictory ideologies about language, including linguistic capital and exchange value. I argue that Kaqchikel is commodified through the FLAS program, which treats language as a skill that has value in promoting U.S. national needs (e.g., security and economic competitiveness). Moreover, while globalization has negatively impacted the vitality of indigenous languages worldwide, including Mayan languages such as Kaqchikel,