Sotz'i Ja Chimalkan
According to Allen J. Christenson (2007: 218n610), citing the Kaqchikel-Spanish dictionary of father Francisco Varea (1699), the name chalamqan is a Kaqchikel term meaning "a serpent of great size that moves calmly/quietly."
Pages that link to Calepino en lengua Cakchiquel / por fray Francisco de Varea, hijo de esta S. Provincia del S. S. Nombre de Jesus de religiosos de N. P. S. Francisco de Goathemala
Solapas principales
Palo
En la versión contemporánea y poética del k'iche', el destacado lingüista k'iche' Sam Colop (1999) escribe la palabra "palo" (mar), aunque en las notas a la traducción española Colop (2008: 23n10) prefiere "palow." Aquí seguimos la ortografía de la edición poética en k'iche'. Colop explica el significado de la frase "petenaq Ch'aqa palow" a través de un cuidadoso estudio de varias traducciones.
Saqikas
Whereas name of the character translates straightforwardly into English as "large snake," the context in which we meet Saqikas is more nuanced. When the frog Tamasul declares himself to be a messenger who carries the word in his belly, and is then eaten by a snake who is eaten by a falcon, the K'iche' authors of the Popol Wuj suggest how meanings are embedded -- and embodied -- in layers of meaning, and how stories require careful attention to unpack. Christenson (2007: fn367p145) notes, "This humorous story may have prophetic significance as well.