FIUEData Analysis EssayThe Mayan languages ​​of Guatemala and Mexico can be referred to as a “linguistic area” (Study Guide, 2014, p. 102) because they are geographically close to each other and the “languages” of the linguistic communities in this region are said to have “been spoken side by side for many generations” (ibid.). Due to long-term contact between the linguistic communities of this language area, bilingualism and language mixing in the speeches of the close-knit natives certainly existed due to demographic movements. (Winford, 2003, p. 19). However, when language contact involves foreign and native languages, communicating in a common language becomes a problem. Therefore, to overcome language barriers, lexical items are borrowed from the former in everyday speech or vice versa. This happens either unconsciously or consciously by native speakers or by foreign language speakers via code-switching if they wish to express an idea in a language that can be understood by both parties. “Borrowings can vary in degree and nature, ranging from casual lexical borrowing to heavy lexical borrowing…” (Winford, 2003, p. 254, cited in Study Guide, 2014). It is clear from the data provided that occasional borrowing of Spanish lexical items is a common feature of the types of borrowings adopted and nativized by the Mayan-speaking communities of Guatemala and Mexico. This essay aims to discuss the social and cultural contact between Spanish, the donor language, and the native speakers of Mayan-speaking communities, who are the recipients. Nativization processes and changes in meaning will be highlighted. It is also worth mentioning the possible reasons why the borrowing took place. The borrowing of lexical items was “contact-induced” (ibid.) during the period of Spanish conquest of Mexico (Study Guide, 2014, ...... middle of article. .....the final lexical items occurred over a long period of time. Most nativized Spanish donor words in Mayan languages ​​originated from the colonial dialect. Spanish lexical items did not affect the syntactic and grammatical structures of Mayan languages. Borrowing when code-switching and inserting single borrowed words into speeches does not affect the grammatical structures of languages.FIUReferences.1. Study Guide for Historical and Comparative Linguistics, School of Linguistic Studies 2. . Winford, D. (2003). 42 – 51).