Why this project is important
Image by Grok
Language is a lifeline
Mam-speaking immigrants—especially those who speak little or no Spanish—often have difficulty asking for what they need, explaining medical problems, or accessing services. These materials are meant to help Mam, English, and Spanish-speakers bridge the communication gap at community touchpoints, such as grocery stores, schools, transportation hubs, entertainment venues, medical facilties, public offices, police departments, and other city and government offices, etc.
Todos Santos Mam is underrepresented
Most resources either lump all Mam dialects together or prioritize dialects other than Todos Santos Mam. The speakers of Todos Santos Mam are often underserved even within Indigenous-focused efforts. According to German Wikipedia, in 2025 there are approximately 60,000 speakers of Todos Santos Mam and is considered an “at risk” language.
Linguists and language enthusiasts can collaborate with AI
If this project is successful, it could serve as a model for other language preservation and conversation teaching efforts. Time is running out for many endangered languages, and AI is a unique and useful tool for quickly developing workflows and strategies to preserve them.
This conversation guide is meant to serve three languages, English, Spanish, and Mam, so that communities can unite to help:
- Mam-speaking children thrive in U.S. schools
- Mam-speaking parents navigate daily life
- Officials and educators communicate effectively
- Indigenous communities utilize AI to explore and preserve their own languages
- Linguists, students, and language enthusiasts brainstorm unique ideas for language preservation
Cultural sovereignty depends on language
When languages disappear, worldviews disappear. This project seeks to honor the knowledge, resilience, and identity of the people who speak Todos Santos Cuchumatán Mam — and ensure that this language continues to grow and thrive.
Joanna Hofer 