Guyana

Summary

Official Name
Population: 790,000
Principal Languages: English
Literacy Rate: 89% (2015 World Factbook)
International Conventions: CPPDCE (2006), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Campbell 1997, Crevels 2007, Forte 1990
Deaf Population: 754–8,000
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Guyana is 20. Of these, 16 are living and 4 are extinct. Of the living languages, 11 are indigenous and 5 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 1 is institutional, 1 is developing, 2 are vigorous, 5 are in trouble, and 7 are dying. Also listed is 1 unestablished language.

Languages

Akawaio ake: Cuyuni-Mazaruni region: Mazaruni river basin, north of Patamona. Users: 4,500 in Guyana (2002 SIL). Ethnic population: 5,000 (Crevels 2007). Total users in all countries: 6,380. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Acahuayo, Acewaio, Akawai, Akawayo, Ingariko, Kapóng Autonym: Kapon Classification: Cariban, North Amazonian, Pemón, Pemón proper, Kapong
American Sign Language ase: Scattered. Users: 2,000 in Guyana (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 1,500–3,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of the total population. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: ASL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Arawak arw: Widespread. West coast and northeast along Corantyne river. Users: 1,500 in Guyana (Forte 1990). Ethnic population: 15,500. The ethnic group represents 33% of the Amerindians in Guyana. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Arowak, Lokono, Lokono Dian Classification: Maipurean, Northern, Maritime, Ta-Maipurean
Atorada aox: Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region: Southwest, near Wapishana [wap] language area. Users: Few in Guyana. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Ator’ti, Atorai, Dauri Classification: Maipurean, Northern, Maritime, Wapixana
Berbice Dutch Creole brc: East Berbice-Corentyne and Upper Demerara-Berbice regions. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last speaker, Princess Sauers, died in 2015. Status: 10 (Extinct). Classification: Creole, Dutch based
Carib car: Barima-Waini and Pomeroon-Supenaam regions: Northwest, coastal river heads and coastal lowland forests. Users: 480 in Guyana (1991). Ethnic population: 3,000 (2000 J. Forte). The ethnic group represents 6% of the Amerindians in Guyana. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Caribe, Cariña, Galibi, Kalihna, Kalinya, Kari’nja, Kari’nya, Kari’ña, Kariña, Karìna, Karìna auran Classification: Cariban
Chinese zho: Users: 1,500 in Guyana. Status: Unestablished.
English eng: Users: 102,000 in Guyana, all users. L1 users: 72,000 in Guyana (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. L2 users: 30,000 (Crystal 2003a). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Guyanese English Creole gyn: Widespread. Possibly also in French Guiana. Users: 643,000 in Guyana (2021 Joshua Project). 324,000 Afro-Guyanese Creole and 319,000 Indo-Guyanese Creole (2021 JoshuaProject). Total users in all countries: 715,200. Status: 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Creolese, Guyanese, Guyanese Creole, Kriiyliiz, Kriiyoliiz Autonym: Gaiyniiz Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Eastern, Southern
Hindustani, Sarnami hns: Barima-Waini and Pomeroon-Supenaam regions. Users: Ethnic population: 539,000. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Aili Gaili, Caribbean Hindustani, Guyanese Hindustani, Sarnaanie Hiendoestaanie Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bihari
Macushi mbc: Potaro-Siparuni and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo regions: Southwest border area, Rupununi north savannahs, 20 small settlements up to Pakaraima mountain foothills. Users: 930 in Guyana (2001 FUNASA). Ethnic population: 7,750 (Crevels 2007). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Macusi, Macussi, Makushi, Makusi, Makuxi, Teueia, Teweya Classification: Cariban, North Amazonian, Pemón, Pemón proper
Mapidian mpw: Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region. Users: No known L1 speakers in Guyana. The last speakers either died or moved to Brazil by the 1960s. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Maiopitian, Maopidian, Maopityan, Mapidi, Mapidiana, Mawayana Classification: Maipurean, Northern, Maritime, Wapixana
Mawayana mzx: Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region: southwest, among the Waiwai [waw] language group. Users: No known L1 speakers in Guyana. The last speakers in Guyana survived into the 1960s and either moved to Suriname or shifted to Waiwai [waw] (Carlin and Mans 2015). Total users in all countries: 2. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Mahuayana Classification: Maipurean, Unclassified
Patamona pbc: Potaro-Siparuni and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo regions: west central, upland savanna in Pakaraima mountains, about 13 villages. Users: 4,700 in Guyana (Forte 1990). Ethnic population: 5,000 (2000 J. Forte). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Eremagok, Ingariko, Kapon Classification: Cariban, North Amazonian, Pemón, Pemón proper, Kapong
Pemon aoc: Cuyuni-Mazaruni region: Paruima and Kaikan on upland savannah. Users: 480 in Guyana (Forte 1990). Ethnic population: 500 (Crevels 2007). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Kamarakotos, Pemong Classification: Cariban, North Amazonian, Pemón, Pemón proper
Skepi Dutch Creole skw: Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last speakers survived into the 1990s (Holm 1989). Status: 10 (Extinct). Classification: Creole, Dutch based
Taruma tdm: Southern East Berbice-Corentyne and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo regions, Guyana-Brazil border area, in the Wapishana [wap] language area. Users: 1 (2015). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Aroaqui, Charuma, Saloema, Saluma, Taruamá Classification: Language isolate
Urdu urd: Scattered. Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Waiwai waw: Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region: southwest, headwaters of Essequibo river. Users: 200 in Guyana (Forte 1990). Ethnic population: 240 (Crevels 2007). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Ouayeone, Parukota, Uaieue, Uaiuai, Wai Wai Classification: Cariban, Waiwai
Wapishana wap: East Berbice-Corentyne and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo regions: southwest, south of the Kanuku mountains, a few villages northwest of the Waiwai [waw] language area. Users: 6,000 in Guyana (2000 J. Forte). Ethnic population: 6,900 (Crevels 2007). Total users in all countries: 12,500. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Uapixana, Vapidiana, Wapichana, Wapisana, Wapishshiana, Wapisiana, Wapitxana, Wapixana Autonym: Wapichan, Wapichan paradan Classification: Maipurean, Northern, Maritime, Wapixana
Warao wba: Barima-Waini, Pomeroon-Supenaam, and Essequibo Islands-West Demerara regions: near the coast, mixed with Arawak [ake] and Carib [car] speakers. Users: Few speakers (Forte 1990). Ethnic population: 5,000 (2000 J. Forte). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Guarao, Guarauno, Warau, Warrau Classification: Language isolate

Languages by Status

1 (National)

English

[eng] 1 (National). De facto national language. 102,000 in Guyana, all users. L1 users: 72,000 in Guyana (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. L2 users: 30,000 (Crystal 2003a).

5 (Developing)

Guyanese English Creole

[gyn] 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. 643,000 in Guyana (2021 Joshua Project). 324,000 Afro-Guyanese Creole and 319,000 Indo-Guyanese Creole (2021 JoshuaProject). Total users in all countries: 715,200.

6a (Vigorous)

American Sign Language

[ase] 6a* (Vigorous). 2,000 in Guyana (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 1,500–3,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of the total population.

Pemon

[aoc] 6a* (Vigorous). 480 in Guyana (Forte 1990). Ethnic population: 500 (Crevels 2007).

6b (Threatened)

Akawaio

[ake] 6b* (Threatened). 4,500 in Guyana (2002 SIL). Ethnic population: 5,000 (Crevels 2007). Total users in all countries: 6,380.

Carib

[car] 6b* (Threatened). 480 in Guyana (1991). Ethnic population: 3,000 (2000 J. Forte). The ethnic group represents 6% of the Amerindians in Guyana.

Patamona

[pbc] 6b* (Threatened). 4,700 in Guyana (Forte 1990). Ethnic population: 5,000 (2000 J. Forte).

Wapishana

[wap] 6b* (Threatened). 6,000 in Guyana (2000 J. Forte). Ethnic population: 6,900 (Crevels 2007). Total users in all countries: 12,500.

7 (Shifting)

Macushi

[mbc] 7 (Shifting). 930 in Guyana (2001 FUNASA). Ethnic population: 7,750 (Crevels 2007).

8a (Moribund)

Arawak

[arw] 8a (Moribund). 1,500 in Guyana (Forte 1990). Ethnic population: 15,500. The ethnic group represents 33% of the Amerindians in Guyana.

Atorada

[aox] 8a (Moribund). Few in Guyana.

Urdu

[urd] 8a (Moribund).

Waiwai

[waw] 8a (Moribund). 200 in Guyana (Forte 1990). Ethnic population: 240 (Crevels 2007).

Warao

[wba] 8a (Moribund). Few speakers (Forte 1990). Ethnic population: 5,000 (2000 J. Forte).

8b (Nearly extinct)

Hindustani, Sarnami

[hns] 8b (Nearly extinct). Ethnic population: 539,000.

Taruma

[tdm] 8b (Nearly extinct). 1 (2015).

10 (Extinct)

Berbice Dutch Creole

[brc] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. Last speaker, Princess Sauers, died in 2015.

Mapidian

[mpw] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers in Guyana. The last speakers either died or moved to Brazil by the 1960s.

Mawayana

[mzx] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers in Guyana. The last speakers in Guyana survived into the 1960s and either moved to Suriname or shifted to Waiwai [waw] (Carlin and Mans 2015). Total users in all countries: 2.

Skepi Dutch Creole

[skw] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. Last speakers survived into the 1990s (Holm 1989).

Unestablished

Chinese

[zho] Unestablished. 1,500 in Guyana.

Maps

Guyana

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Guyana with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Guyana is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Guyana with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Guyana is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Guyana in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Guyana ($149.95, 28 page PDF)

Guyana

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Guyana

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action