Languages of Guyana

Just posting a lost of languages. If I am missing any, please add them here.


English


Amerindian languages:


Akawaio - 4,500
Arawak - 1,500 out of ethnic population of 15,500
Atorada - few (speakers are all elderly, edging towards language death) - Southwest Guyana
Carib - 480 out of ethnic population of 3,000
Macushi - 9,500
Mapidian (Maopityan) - few (speakers are all elderly, edging towards language death) - Southwest Guyana
Mawayana - few (speakers are all elderly, edging towards language death) - Southwest Guyana near Waiwai
Patamona - 4,700 out of ethnic population of 5,000
Pemon - 480 out of ethnic population of 500
Waiwai - 200
Wapishana - 6,000
Warao - no longer spoken by ethnic population of 5,000


Creole languages:


Guyanese Creole English - almost the entire population of Guyana
Berbice Creole Dutch - Extinct in 2005. Last speaker was Bertha Bell (b. 1901 - d.2005). Berbice River area.
Skepi Creole Dutch - Extinct in 1998. Essequibo region.


East Indian languages:


Caribbean Hindustani - around 1% of the ethnic population


Other languages: Portuguese, Chinese.

Is Garifuna spoken by the Arawaks of Guyana?


Garifuna is an Arawakan language from Honduras and Belize, but also spoken by a diaspora in the United States.
Staff at the Endangered Language Alliance have been working with two Garifuna speakers, Loreida Guity and Alex Colon, to document not only their language but also aspects of their culture through traditional song, before these are lost without record.


Taken from BBC News

[quote author=The Watchman link=topic=75513.msg465111#msg465111 date=1355666828]
Is Garifuna spoken by the Arawaks of Guyana?
[/quote]


Nope. Garifuna is only spoken in Honduras and Belize.


They were originally from Saint Vincent, but were defeated by the British in 1796, and deported to Honduras.

Great post guys !

                             

Is that Auntie Deo?

fabulous in red

Manikchand with her  ::lol::

                             

[size=10pt]President Donald Ramotar comforting the mother of deceased boat captain

                     
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he eye de pon the pot ah dhall