Belizean languages
Belize's population is 272,945. American Indians 11% (1991 census). National or official language: English. Literacy rate: 70%. Average years of schooling 7.53. Also includes Hindi (8,455), Japanese, Korean, North Levantine Spoken Arabic (187), Chinese. Information mainly from SIL 1973–2003. Blind population: 728 registered. Deaf population: 12,671. Deaf institutions: 1. The number of languages listed for Belize is 8. Of those, all are living languages.
| Belize Kriol English |
[bzj]
55,051 in Belize (1991 census). Population total all countries: 95,051. Ethnic population: 158,000 including second-language speakers (1990). Most live in Belize City, but nearly everyone else in Belize is either a first- or second-language speaker of Creole. Many of the rural villages are Creole-speaking. Creole people tend to live along the coast or other waterways. It is the lingua franca in much of the country. Also spoken in USA.
Alternate names: Northern Central America Creole English, Kriol, Creola.
Dialects: Reported to be very close to Mískito Coast, Rama Cay, and Islander (San Andrés) creoles. Historically an extension of Mískito Coast Creole. Dahufra was a creole used in the 16th to 18th centuries.
Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Western
Belize Kriol English
A language of Belize
| Population |
55,051 in Belize (1991 census). Population total all countries: 95,051. Ethnic population: 158,000 including second-language speakers (1990). |
| Region |
Most live in Belize City, but nearly everyone else in Belize is either a first- or second-language speaker of Creole. Many of the rural villages are Creole-speaking. Creole people tend to live along the coast or other waterways. It is the lingua franca in much of the country. Also spoken in USA. |
| Alternate names |
Northern Central America Creole English, Kriol, Creola |
| Dialects |
Reported to be very close to Mískito Coast, Rama Cay, and Islander (San Andrés) creoles. Historically an extension of Mískito Coast Creole. Dahufra was a creole used in the 16th to 18th centuries. |
| Classification |
Creole, English based, Atlantic, Western |
| Language use |
Spoken by creoles and people of East Indian descent, used everywhere in most areas of life. Used in advertisements. Positive language attitude. |
| Language development |
Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1999. |
| Comments |
Jamaican Creole is different in orthography and grammar. Timber; agriculturalists; fishermen; industrial workers; construction industry; commerce; government, teachers. |
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| English |
[eng]
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
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| Garifuna |
[cab]
12,274 in Belize (1991 census). Dangriga, Stann Creek, and Toledo along the coast, 6 villages.
Alternate names: Caribe, Central American Carib, Black Carib, "Moreno".
Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Caribbean
Garifuna
A language of Honduras
| Population |
98,000 in Honduras (1993 Ramon D. Rivas). 100 monolinguals. Population total all countries: 191,974. |
| Region |
Mainly of the north coast between Masca, Cortés Department and Plaplaya, Gracias a Dios Department. 37 villages in Honduras, 46 in Central America (plus cities La Ceiba, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, and Puerto Cortés). Also spoken in Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, USA. |
| Alternate names |
Caribe, Central American Carib, Black Carib, Garífuna |
| Dialects |
Eastern Garifuna, Western Garifuna. Eastern Garifuna is in Honduras and Nicaragua (leaves out 'r' and tends to shorten words), Western Garifuna in Guatemala and Belize. Related to Island Carib, with Spanish, English, and French borrowings. |
| Classification |
Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Caribbean |
| Language use |
In some villages in Honduras speakers are shifting to Spanish. All domains, family, friends, local administration, some religious services. In about half of the villages the people are proud of Garifuna. 5% trilingual with English. |
| Language development |
Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 5%. Literacy rate in second language: 5% to 15%. English-oriented orthography used for Belize, Spanish-oriented in Guatemala. The Western dialect is used as the written standard, and the orthography is being standardized. Roman script. Radio programs. Dictionary. Bible: 2002. |
| Comments |
VSO. Coastal. Agriculturalists; fishermen; sailors on merchant and cruise ships; city jobs. Christian, traditional religion. |
Also spoken in:
Belize
| Language name |
Garifuna |
| Population |
12,274 in Belize (1991 census). |
| Region |
Dangriga, Stann Creek, and Toledo along the coast, 6 villages. |
| Alternate names |
Caribe, Central American Carib, Black Carib, "Moreno" |
| Language use |
Speakers also use Belize Creole. |
| |
Guatemala
| Language name |
Garifuna |
| Population |
16,700 in Guatemala. |
| Region |
Two villages on the northeast coast: Livingston and Puerto Barrios. |
| Alternate names |
Garífuna, Black Carib, Caribe, Central American Carib |
| Language use |
Speakers also use Spanish. |
| Language development |
Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 5%. Literacy rate in second language: 15% to 20%. |
| Comments |
Ancestors brought from Saint Vincent Island in 1796–1797, and taken to Roatan Island. Most went to Trujillo in 1937. About 35 years later political troubles threatened their existence, and they fled further east in Honduras and Belize. Later they emigrated to other countries. |
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Nicaragua
| Language name |
Garifuna |
| Population |
A few speakers in Nicaragua (2001 Elias Velásquez). Ethnic population: 1,500 in Nicaragua (1982 Meso-America). |
| Region |
Región Atlántica Autónoma del Sur, Orinoco village, far from speakers in other countries. |
| Alternate names |
Garífuna, Caribe, Black Carib, Central American Carib, "Moreno" |
| Language use |
All speakers are older adults in Nicaragua. Speakers also use Creole. |
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| Kekchí |
[kek]
9,000 in Belize (1995 SIL). Southern Belize.
Alternate names: Ketchí, Quecchí, Cacché.
Classification: Mayan, Quichean-Mamean, Greater Quichean, Kekchi
Q'eqchi'
A language of Guatemala
| Population |
400,000 in Guatemala (1998 SIL). Population total all countries: 421,286. |
| Region |
Northern Alta Verapaz, southern Petén departments in Guatemala. Also spoken in Belize, El Salvador. |
| Alternate names |
Quecchi', Cacche', Ketchi', Kekchi' |
| Dialects |
Only slight dialect differences. Prestige dialect is Cobán, Alta Verapaz. |
| Classification |
Mayan, Quichean-Mamean, Greater Quichean, Kekchi |
| Language use |
All ages. |
| Language development |
Literacy rate in first language: 10% to 30%. Literacy rate in second language: 22%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1988–2001. |
| Comments |
SVO. Traditional religion, Christian. |
Also spoken in:
Belize
| Language name |
Kekchí |
| Population |
9,000 in Belize (1995 SIL). |
| Region |
Southern Belize. |
| Alternate names |
Ketchí, Quecchí, Cacché |
| |
El Salvador
| Language name |
Kekchí |
| Population |
12,286 in El Salvador. |
| Alternate names |
Quecchí, Cacché |
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|
| Maya, Mopán |
[mop]
8,375 in Belize (2000 WCD). Population total all countries: 10,975. Toledo, Stann Creek, and Cayo districts. Also spoken in Guatemala.
Alternate names: Maya Mopán, Mopane.
Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan, Mopan-Itza
Maya, Mopán
A language of Belize
| Population |
8,375 in Belize (2000 WCD). Population total all countries: 10,975. |
| Region |
Toledo, Stann Creek, and Cayo districts. Also spoken in Guatemala. |
| Alternate names |
Maya Mopán, Mopane |
| Classification |
Mayan, Yucatecan, Mopan-Itza |
| Language development |
NT: 1979. |
| Comments |
VOS. |
Also spoken in:
Guatemala
| Language name |
Maya, Mopán |
| Population |
2,600 in Guatemala (1990 SIL). |
| Region |
Petén Department. |
| Alternate names |
Maya Mopán, Mopane |
| Language development |
Literacy rate in first language: below 1%. Literacy rate in second language: 5% to 15%. |
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|
| Maya, Yucatán |
[yua]
Ethnic population: 5,000 in Belize (1991). San Antonio and Succoths in Cayo District. It may still be spoken in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts near the Mexico border.
Alternate names: Yucateco.
Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan, Yucatec-Lacandon
Maya, Yucatán
A language of Mexico
| Population |
700,000 in Mexico (1990 census). Population total all countries:
700,000 (1990). |
| Region |
Campeche, Quintana Roo, Yucatán. Also spoken in Belize. |
| Alternate names |
Peninsular Maya |
| Classification |
Mayan,
Yucatecan, Yucatec-Lacandon |
| Language development |
Bible: 1992. |
| Comments |
SVO. |
Also spoken in:
Belize
| Language name |
Maya, Yucatán |
| Population |
Ethnic population: 5,000 in Belize (1991). |
| Region |
San Antonio and Succoths in Cayo District. It may still be spoken in
the Orange Walk and Corozal districts near the Mexico border. |
| Alternate names |
Yucateco |
| Language use |
Speakers in Belize are shifting to Spanish. Many are concerned about
language loss and are trying to start classes for the youth. Speakers are
older adults. People in Succoths village say the older people speak
Maya. |
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| Plautdietsch |
[pdt]
5,763 in Belize (1991 census).
Alternate names: German, Mennonite German.
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon
Plautdietsch
A language of Canada
| Population |
80,000 in Canada (1978 Kloss and McConnell). Total German first-language speakers in Canada including standard German, 561,000 (1986 Hawkins in B. Comrie). 110,735 in Latin America are fairly monolingual. Population total all countries: 401,699. |
| Region |
Southern Canada; Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia. Also spoken in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Germany, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Paraguay, Russia (Asia), Uruguay, USA. |
| Alternate names |
Low German, Mennonite German, Mennoniten Platt |
| Dialects |
50% intelligible with other Low German languages, Standard German, Pennsylvania German, or Hutterite German. |
| Classification |
Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Saxon |
| Language use |
20,000 second-language speakers. 110,735 or more speakers in Latin America are mainly monolingual in Plautdietsch. 50% of speakers in Canada speak Standard German and 95% speak English as second language. |
| Language development |
Literacy rate in second language: 95%. Bible: 2003. |
| Comments |
SVO; prepositions; genitives after noun heads; question word initial; 5 prefixes; 2 suffixes; nontonal. Christian. |
Also spoken in:
Belize
| Language name |
Plautdietsch |
| Population |
5,763 in Belize (1991 census). |
| Alternate names |
German, Mennonite German |
| Language use |
110,735 or more in Latin America are fairly monolingual. 15% speak German, many speak English, and some speak Creole or Spanish as second language. |
| Comments |
Christian. |
| |
Bolivia
| Language name |
Plautdietsch |
| Population |
28,567 in Bolivia (1996 editor, Menno-Bote). |
| Alternate names |
German, Mennonite German |
| Language use |
6% speak Spanish or Standard German as second language. |
| Comments |
Christian. |
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Brazil
| Language name |
Plautdietsch |
| Population |
5,955 in Brazil (1985 SIL). |
| Region |
Primarily in Canada. |
| Alternate names |
Low German, Mennonite German |
| Language use |
110,735 or more in Latin America are fairly monolingual. Speakers also use Portuguese or Standard German. |
| Comments |
Christian. |
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Costa Rica
| Language name |
Plautdietsch |
| Population |
100 in Costa Rica (1974 Minnich). |
| Region |
Sarapiqui area. |
| Alternate names |
Low German, Mennonite German |
| Language use |
Used in the home. Speakers also use Spanish. |
| Comments |
Christian. |
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Germany
| Language name |
Plautdietsch |
| Population |
90,000 in Germany (1996 Reuben Epp). |
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Kazakhstan
| Language name |
Plautdietsch |
| Population |
100,000 in Russia and Kazakhstan (1986). |
| Region |
Various locations including Alma Ata near the China border, beyond Tashkent, and Kazakhstan. |
| Alternate names |
Low German |
| Language use |
50% speak Russian as second language. |
| Comments |
Christian. |
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Mexico
| Language name |
Plautdietsch |
| Population |
40,000 in Mexico (1996). |
| Region |
Chihuahua (Cuauhtemoc, Virginias, Buenos Aires, Capulín), Durango (Nuevo Ideal, Canatlán), Campeche (Chávez, Progreso, Yalnon), Zacatecas (La Honda, La Batea). |
| Alternate names |
Low German, Mennonite German |
| Language use |
22% speak Standard German, 5% speak English, 30% speak Spanish, 5% speak Russian as second language. |
| Language development |
Literacy rate in second language: 60%. |
| Comments |
Intensive agriculturalists; cheese production. Christian. |
| |
Paraguay
| Language name |
Plautdietsch |
| Population |
38,000 in Paraguay. Population includes 19,000 who speak Plautdietsch and Standard German both as first language. |
| Region |
Chaco and eastern Paraguay; towns of Filadelfia, Menno Colony, Loma Plata, Neuland. |
| Alternate names |
Low German |
| Language use |
Speakers also use Spanish or German. |
| Comments |
Agriculturalists: dairy, grain, cotton, peanuts. Christian. |
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USA
| Language name |
Plautdietsch |
| Population |
11,974 in the USA (2000). |
| Region |
Hillsboro, Kansas; Reedley, California; and Corn, Oklahoma. |
| Alternate names |
Low German, Mennonite German |
| Language use |
5% speak Standard German, 98% speak English as second language. |
| Language development |
Literacy rate in second language: 95%. |
| Comments |
Christian. |
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| Spanish |
[spa]
80,477 in Belize (1991 census). Northern and western districts, and scattered throughout the country.
Alternate names: Español, Castellano.
Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
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