Ethnologue report for Guyana - Languages of Guyana

Co-operative Republic of Guyana. Formerly British Guiana. National or official language: English. 850,000 (1998 UN). 43,000 Amerindians (1990 Janette Forte).  Literacy rate 91%. Also includes Lesser Antillean Creole French 250, Portuguese, Urdu, Chinese 1,500. Information mainly from J. Forte 1990; SIL 1965-99. Christian, Hindu, Muslim, traditional religion, secular. Blind population 1,300 (1982 WCE). Deaf population 44,199. Deaf institutions: 6.  Data accuracy estimate: A2, B. The number of languages listed for Guyana is 14. Of those, 13 are living languages and 1 is extinct. Diversity index 0.07.

AKAWAIO[ARB] 
3,800 in Guyana, 9% of the Amerindians (1990 J. Forte). Population total all countries 4,300 or more.  
Alternate names: ACEWAIO, AKAWAI, ACAHUAYO, KAPON.  
Classification: Carib, Northern, East-West Guiana, Macushi-Kapon, Kapon.  
Comments: Important differences in vocabulary from Patamona. Language attitudes indicate separate literature is needed. They and the Patamona call themselves 'Kapon.' Tropical forest. Upland. Hunter-gatherers, fishermen. Traditional religion. 
Also spoken in:
Brazil   Language name  AKAWAIO
Population  500 in Brazil.
Alternate names  ACEWAIO, AKAWAI, ACAHUAYO, INGARIKÓ
Comments Close to Macushi and Arecuna. Not intelligible with Macushi. Limited bilingualism.
Venezuela   Language name  AKAWAIO
Population A few in Venezuela.
Alternate names  ACEWAIO, AKAWAI, ACAWAYO, ACAHUAYO, WAICÁ
Comments Close to Macushi but not inherently intelligible. Marginally intelligible with Arecuna. Limited bilingualism. Ethnic pride. The Akawaio and Patamona call themselves 'Kapon.' 

ARAWAK[ARW] 
1,500 speakers (1984) out of 15,000 in the ethnic group in Guyana (1990 J. Forte).  West coast and northeast along the Corantyne River. 
Alternate names: AROWAK, LOKONO.  
Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Caribbean.  
Comments: Others in the ethnic group are bilingual. Reported to be used only primarily by the elderly in Guyana and Suriname. The ethnic group in Guyana represents 33% of the Amerindians.
Also spoken in:
Surinam
Population: 700 speakers out of 2,051 in the ethnic group in Suriname (1980 census). Population: total all countries 2,400.
Region: Scattered locations across the north of Suriname.
Alternate names  LOKONO, AROWAK
Comments Reported to be used only by the elderly in Suriname and Guyana. The young people use Sranan. Investigation needed: bilingual proficiency in Arawak (French Guiana, Venezuela). Dictionary. Grammar. Literacy rate in first language: Below 1%. Literacy rate in second language: 25% to 50%
Also spoken in:
French Guiana   Language name  ARAWAK
Population150 to 200 in French Guiana.
Alternate names  LOKONO
Comments Reported to be used only by the elderly. Investigation needed: bilingual proficiency in French Guiana.
Venezuela   Language name  ARAWAK
Population A few in Venezuela.
Alternate names: AROWAK, LOKONO
Comments Investigation needed: bilingual proficiency.

ARUMA[WAP] 
Population: 6,000 in Guyana (1990 J. Forte), 14% of the Amerindians (1990 J. Forte). Population total both countries 7,500.
Region: Southwest Guyana, south of the Kanuku Mts., northwest of the Waiwai; a few villages. Also spoken in Brazil. 
Alternate names: WAPITXANA, WAPISIANA, VAPIDIANA, WAPIXANA
Dialects: ATORADA (ATOR'TI, DAURI, ATORAI), MAPIDIAN (MAOPITYAN, MAWAYANA), AMARIBA.
Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Wapishanan.
Comments: English is taught in school. 40 Mapidian are intermarried with Waiwai speakers and speak fluent Waiwai. Amariba may be extinct, Taruma is nearly extinct. Savannah. Swidden agriculturalists: cassava. Traditional religion, Christian.
Also spoken in:
Brazil   Language name  ARUMA
Population1,500 in Brazil including 64 Mawayana (1986 SIL).
Alternate names  WAPITXÁNA, WAPISIANA, VAPIDIANA
Dialects: ATORADA (ATOR'TI, DAURI, ATORAI), AMARIBA, MAPIDIAN (MAOPITYAN, MAIOPITIAN, MAWAYANA, MAHUAYANA), TARUMA.
Comments: People are somewhat bilingual. Taruma is nearly extinct. Amariba may be extinct. The dialect Atorada (Atorai) is not the same as the separate language Atroai (Atruahí).

BERBICE CREOLE DUTCH[BRC] 
4 or 5 speakers (1993 S. Kouwenberg), 15 with limited competence (1989 J. Holm).  Berbice River area. 
Classification: Creole, Dutch based.  Nearly extinct. 

CARIB[CRB] 
Language name  CARIB
Population: 475 or more in Guyana (1991) out of 2,700 in the ethnic group (1990 J. Forte). Region: West coast and northwest. 
Alternate names: CARIBE, CARIÑA, KALIHNA, KALINYA, GALIBI
Dialects: MURATO (MYRATO, WESTERN CARIB).
Classification: Carib, Northern, Galibi.
Comments: The ethnic group in Guyana represents 6% of the Amerindians.
Also spoken in:
Venezuela   
Language name  CARIB
Population: 4,000 to 5,000 in Venezuela (1978 J.C. Mosonyi). Population total all countries 10,000 (1991).
Region: Monagas and Anzoategui states, northeast near Orinoco River mouth, plus a few communities in Bolivar State, just south of Orinoco. 
Alternate names  CARIBE, CARIÑA, KALIHNA, KALINYA, GALIBI
Dialects: TABAJARI, CHAYMA (CHAIMA, SAYMA, WARAPICHE, GUAGA-TAGARE).
Comments: The Chayma people are probably bilingual or monolingual in Spanish. The very old and very young are monolingual. Quite well integrated into Venezuelan culture, though they do speak their own language among themselves.
Brazil   Language name  CARIB
Population: 100 or more in Brazil (1995 SIL).
Alternate names: CARIBE, CARIÑA, KALIHNA, KALINYA, GALIBÍ, MARAWORNO, MARWORNO
Dialects: TYREWUJU (EASTERN CARIB).
Comments: Called 'Galibi' in Brazil. Portuguese-Carib creole people (Galibí do Uaça) also speak Crioulo (French Creole).

French Guiana   Language name  CARIB
Population: 1,200 in French Guiana.
Alternate names:  CARIBE, CARIÑA, KALIHNA, KALINYA, GALIBI
Dialects: TYREWUJU (EASTERN CARIB).

Suriname   Language name  CARIB
Population: 2,390 in Suriname villages (1980 census).
Alternate names:  CARIBE, CARIÑA, KALIHNA, KALINYA, KALI'NA, GALIBÍ, MARAWORNO
Dialects: MURATO (MYRATO, WESTERN CARIB), TYREWUJU (EASTERN CARIB).
Comments: Speakers of the central dialect are reported to be bilingual and switching to Sranan. They also speak Dutch as second language. All ages in some areas. The eastern dialect is the prestige dialect in Suriname. Their own name for the language is 'Kari'na auran', 'Kari'na' for the people. The name in Dutch is 'Kara'ibs', in French 'Galibi', in Spanish 'Caribe', in English 'Carib.' Dictionary. Grammar. Literacy rate in first language: Below 1%. Literacy rate in second language: 25% to 50%. 

ENGLISH[ENG]    
Dialects: GUYANESE ENGLISH.  
Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English.  

GUYANESE CREOLE ENGLISH[GYN] 
Population: 650,000 possibly (250,000 Blacks and 400,000 Hindustanis). Population total all countries 700,000.
Region: Georgetown, coast, and Rupununi River area. There may be some in French Guiana. Also spoken in Suriname, USA. 
Alternate names: CREOLESE, GUYANESE CREOLE
Dialects: AFRO-GUYANESE CREOLE, RUPUNUNI, INDO-GUYANESE CREOLE.
Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Eastern, Southern.
Comments: It may be intelligible with other English based creoles of the Caribbean. Closest to creoles of Windward and Leeward Islands and Tobago. Rupununi may be a separate language. Speakers of Rupununi, Berbice Creole Dutch, and Skepi Creole Dutch claim they are not inherently intelligible with each other. It will remain the home language and be used alongside Standard English (M. Adler 1977). There is a creole continuum with Standard English. The first or second language of most people, but it has no official status. Grammar.
Also spoken in:
Suriname   Language name  GUYANESE CREOLE ENGLISH
Population: 50,000 in Suriname (1986 SIL).
Alternate names: CREOLESE, GUYANESE CREOLE
Comments: Literacy rate in second language: 25% to 50%.

HINDUSTANI, CARIBBEAN[HNS] 
Ethnic group: 538,500 Hindustanis in Guyana.   
Alternate names: AILI GAILI.  
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone, Bihari.  

MACUSHI[MBC] 
Population: 7,000 in Guyana, 16% of the Amerindians (1990 J. Forte). Population total all countries 11,400 to 13,000.
Region: Southwestern border area, Rupununi north savannahs. Spread out in small settlements up to the foothills of the Pakaraima Mts. Also spoken in Brazil, Venezuela. 
Alternate names:  MAKUSHI, MAKUXI, MACUSI, MACUSSI, TEWEYA, TEUEIA
Classification: Carib, Northern, East-West Guiana, Macushi-Kapon, Macushi.
Comments: Close to, but not intelligible with, Patamona. The second language is English in Guyana, Portuguese in Brazil, Spanish in Venezuela. OVS. NT 1981.
Also spoken in:
Brazil   Language name  MACUSHI
Alternate names:  MAKUXI, MACUSI, MAKUSHI, TEWEYA, TEUEIA
Comments: Not intelligible with Arecuna or Patamona. Bilingualism increasing in Portuguese. OVS. NT 1981.
Venezuela   Language name  MACUSHI
Population600 in Venezuela.
Alternate names:  MAKUXI, MAKUSHI, TEWEYA
Comments: Close to, but not intelligible with Patamona (Ingariko). Some from Guyana in Bolivar State speak English as second language. NT 1981.

PATAMONA[PBC] 
Population: 4,700 10% of the Amerindians (1990 J. Forte). 
Region: West central, about 13 villages. 
Alternate names:  INGARIKO, EREMAGOK, KAPON
Classification: Carib, Northern, East-West Guiana, Macushi-Kapon, Kapon.
Comments: Close to Macushi but not inherently intelligible. Marginally intelligible with Arecuna. Closest to Akawaio, but vocabulary differences and language attitudes make separate literature necessary. The Akawaio are less acculturated than Patamona. 'Ingariko' is the Macushi term for 'bush people.' People in the village of Paramakatoi are literate in English and Patamona. Some in other villages are literate in English. NT 1974.

PEMON[AOC] 
Population: 475 Arekuna in Guyana, 1% of the Amerindians (1990 J. Forte).
Alternate names  PEMONG
Dialects: CAMARACOTO, TAUREPAN (TAULIPANG), ARECUNA (ARICUNA, AREKUNA, JARICUNA)
Classification: Carib, Northern, East-West Guiana, Macushi-Kapon, Kapon.  
Comments: Marginally intelligible with Patamona and Akawaio. Camaracoto may be distinct. OVS.
Also spoken in:
Venezuela   Language name PEMON
Population: 4,850 Pemon in Venezuela. Population total all countries 6,004.
Region: Bolivar State, Gran Sabana and adjacent areas. 
Alternate names: PEMONG
Dialects: CAMARACOTO, TAUREPAN (TAULIPANG), ARECUNA (ARICUNA, AREKUNA, JARICUNA, PEMON, DAIGOK, POTSAWUGOK, PISHAUCO, PURUCOTO, KAMARAGAKOK).
Comments: Marginally intelligible with Akawaio and Patamona. Camaracoto may be distinct. The large majority are monolingual. OVS. 
Brazil   Language name  PEMON
Population: 679 in Brazil, including 220 Taulipang, 459 Ingariko.
Alternate names:  PEMONG, INGARIKÓ, INGARICÓ
Dialects: TAULIPANG (TAUREPAN), CAMARACOTA (IPURICOTO), ARECUNA (ARICUNA, AREKUNA, JARICUNA).
Comments: OVS.

WAIWAI[WAW] 
Population: 200 in Guyana (1990 J. Forte).  Southwest Guyana, headwaters of the Essequibo River. 
Alternate names: UAIUAI, UAIEUE, OUAYEONE, PARUKOTA.  
Dialects: KATAWIAN (KATWENA, KATAWINA).  
Classification: Carib, Northern, East-West Guiana, Waiwai.  
Also spoken in:
Brazil   Population: 571 in Brazil (1995 AMTB). Population total both countries 770.
Region: Amazonas, Pará, Roraima.
Alternate names:  UAIUAI, UAIEUE, OUAYEONE
Dialects: KATAWIAN (KATWENA, KATAWINA, CATAWIAN, CATAUIAN, PARUCUTU, PARUKUTU, KATUENA, CACHUENA).
Comments: Dialect or related language: Salumá. Voegelin and Voegelin (1977) treat Katawian as a separate language. Hunters, fishermen. NT 1984.

WARAO[WBA] 
Population: A few speakers in Guyana out of 4,700 in the ethnic group (1990 J. Forte).  
Region: Northwestern, at Oreala, Guyana near coast, mixed with Arawak and Carib speakers. 
Alternate names: WARAU, WARRAU, GUARAO, GUARAUNO.  
Classification: Language Isolate.  
Comments: Bilingualism in Guyanese. In Guyana only the older people speak the language. NT 1974.
Also spoken in:
Venezuela   Population: 18,000 in Venezuela (1993 UBS). Population total all countries 18,000.
Region: On the delta of the Orinoco River, Delta Amacuro, Sucre, Monagas. 
Alternate names  GUARAUNO, GUARAO, WARRAU
Comments: All ages. NT 1974.

Extinct languages
SKEPI CREOLE DUTCH[SKW]   Essequibo region. Dialects: ESSEQUIBO.  
Classification: Creole, Dutch based.