LAII Lecture Focuses on Sacred Maya Text

March 20, 2014

The UNM Latin American & Iberian Institute (LAII) is pleased to announce the fourth presentation in its Spring 2014 Lecture Series, "The Popol Wuj: Historical, Sociocultural, and Linguistic Considerations," with Drs. Robert Carmack and James Mondloch. The presentation will be held Tuesday, March 25, 2014, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. in the LAII Conference Room. Please see the event flyer for reference.

Drs. Robert Carmack and James Mondloch will jointly discuss the Popol Wuj, the sacred book of the K'iche' Maya which narrates the origins, history, and traditions of their people. Carmack and Mondloch are currently collaborating on a new Spanish translation of the Popol Wuj.

Carmack is an ethnohistorian with an area specialization in Mesoamerica, and especially in the K'ichee' Maya region. Currently Professor Emeritus at the State University of New York at Albany, he is the author of numerous books and articles on the subject. Carmack will lead the first half of the presentation to discuss "Historical and Sociocultural Highlights from a New Look at the Popol Wuj."

Mondloch is a linguistic anthropologist whose areas of specialization include the K'ichee' Maya language and culture. Currently an adjunct professor at UNM, where he teaches courses in the K'ichee' language at the LAII, Mondloch is the author of several books and articles on the subject. Mondloch will lead the second half of the presentation to discuss "The K'ichee' Language of the Popol Wuj: Challenges It Presents to Translators and Students of This Document."

To learn more about the K'iche' Maya language, see the LAII's K'iche' Maya Oral History Project.