Pronunciation: [zˈɒkwi͡ən] (IPA) 
Zoquean is spelled with the letters Z-O-Q-U-E-A-N. In IPA phonetic transcription, this word is pronounced as /zoʊˈkeɪən/. The stress is on the second syllable, which is pronounced like "kay". The "z" is pronounced as /z/, the "o" as /oʊ/, the "q" as /k/, the "u" as /u/, the "e" as /eɪ/, the "a" as /ə/, and the "n" as /n/. Zoquean refers to the indigenous people and languages of the region in southern Mexico known as Zoque.
Zoquean refers to a language family known as Zoque, predominantly spoken in southern Mexico, particularly in the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco, and Veracruz. This language family includes several closely related languages, characterized by the Zoquean linguistic features and shared historical and cultural context.
The Zoquean languages exhibit a significant degree of mutual intelligibility and phonological similarities, including phonemic inventories, sound changes, and grammatical structure. They are classified within the Mixe-Zoquean language family, which is a branch of the larger hypothetical language family, Penutian.
The Zoquean languages have distinctively rich phonologies, with a variety of vowel and consonant phonemes and unique tonal patterns. They utilize complex verbal systems, including diverse verb inflections, argument marking, and aspectual distinctions. Additionally, they commonly employ agglutinative and polysynthetic features by attaching numerous affixes to the verb root to express grammatical categories such as tense, mood, and aspect.
The Zoquean people are an indigenous group historically associated with the Mesoamerican civilization, known for their agriculture, ceramics, and distinct cultural practices. Despite the impact of Spanish colonization and the encroachment of other languages, efforts are being made to preserve the Zoquean languages by promoting their use in education, literature, and cultural revitalization initiatives.
Overall, Zoquean refers to a language family encompassing several mutually intelligible languages and the diverse indigenous communities that speak them, and holds significant cultural and historical importance in the southern regions of Mexico.
The word "Zoquean" is derived from the native language of the Zoque people, who inhabit the southern parts of the Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco, and Veracruz. The Zoque language belongs to the Mixe-Zoquean language family. Although the specific etymology of the term "Zoquean" itself is unknown, it is commonly used to refer to the languages, culture, and people associated with the Zoque community.
