K'ayala'

One of the places, along with Paxil, where yellow and white maize originates. Anthropologist Allen J. Christenson (p. 2007: 193n455) explains that “K’ayala’ means ‘bitter or stagnant water.’ This is perhaps related to the notion of the primordial waters of creation which the highland Maya often associate with seawater or brackish ponds, out of which the frist mountains emerged. Among modern Quichés, k’alaya’ is the water mixed with lime that women use to add to ground maize dough (Akkeren, personal communication).” Similarly, anthropologist Dennis Tedlock (1996: 145) has maize originating in “Split Place” (Paxil) and “Bitter Water Place” (K’ayala’).

En su edición española, el lingüista k'iche' Sam Colop (2008: 128) escribe que "Pan Paxil" y "Pan K'ayala'" son los sitios donde el maíz blanco y amarillo origen. En la versión en k'iche' (1999: 120), el mismo investigador escribe el nombre como "Kayala'," sin la primera oclusiva glotal.