ABSTRACT
Primary among potential candidates are language and dress, although phenotype, religion, surnames, or any number of other markers may be used. Very few non-Maya speak the language, so it offers an effective means of public yet hidden communication. It is a way for individuals to talk among themselves without being understood by outsiders, unless, of course, that "outsider" is another speaker of the Kaqchikel language. In lists of traits that purportedly distinguish the Maya as a culture group, language is invariably emphasized. However, the construction of Maya identity in Tecpan becomes even complex when we add indigenous clothing to the mix. Whereas Indian women are more likely than Indian men to be monolingual in a Mayan language, high percentages of both sexes speak a Mayan language in a community like Tecpan. Tecpanecos have taken active roles in other government initiatives that likewise have had impacts on issues concerning Kaqchikel Mayan and traje, their prominence and people's sense of cultural worth.
