Garifuna

A language of Honduras

Atlántida and Colón departments; Cortes department: north coast between Masca and Plaplaya in Gracias a Dios department; Islas de la Bahía (Roatan island) department; cities: La Ceiba, Puerto Cortés, San Pedro Sula, and Tegucigalpa; 37 villages.

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Belize

Language NameGarifuna

User Population

8,440 in Belize (2014 UNSD). Ethnic population: 15,100 (2013 census).

Location

Belize, Stann Creek, and Toledo districts: 6 villages.

Alternate Names

Caribe, Central American Carib, Garínagu, “Black Carib” (pej.), “Moreno” (pej.)

Dialects

Western Garifuna.

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Language Use

Some young people, all adults, few children (2013 census). Also use Belize English Creole [bzj]. Also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Ancestors taken from Saint Vincent Island in 1796–1797, and taken to Roatan Island. Most went to Trujillo, Honduras in 1937. About 35 years later political troubles threatened their existence, and they fled further east into Honduras and Belize. Later they emigrated to other countries.

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Guatemala

Language NameGarifuna

User Population

2,860 in Guatemala (2019 census). Ethnic population: 19,500 (2019 census).

Location

Izabal department: Livingston and Puerto Barrios villages; northeast coast.

Alternate Names

Black Carib, Caribe, Central American Carib, Garífuna, Garínagu

Dialects

Western Garifuna.

Language Status

6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Law of National Languages, Decree 19).

Language Use

Some young people, all adults. All also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–20%.

Other Comments

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Nicaragua

Language NameGarifuna

User Population

No known L1 speakers in Nicaragua (2012 R. Reeck). Ethnic population: 3,270 (2005 census).

Location

South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region: Orinoco village.

Alternate Names

Black Carib, Caribe, Central American Carib, Garífuna, “Moreno” (pej.)

Language Status

9 (Dormant). Recognized language (1993, Official Language Use, Atlantic Autonomous Regions, Law No. 162, Article 4).

Language Use

Shifted to Spanish [spa].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Ancestors taken from Saint Vincent Island in 1796–1797, and taken to Roatan Island. Most went to Trujillo, Honduras in 1937. About 35 years later political troubles threatened their existence, and they fled further east into Honduras and Belize. Later they emigrated to other countries.

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United States

Language NameGarifuna

User Population

65,000 in United States (2001 E. Velásquez).

Location

California: Los Angeles; Florida: Miami; Louisiana: New Orleans; New York: New York City.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Garifuna

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A language of Honduras

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