Nicaragua

Summary

Official Name
Population: 6,560,000
Principal Languages: Spanish
Literacy Rate: 83% (2015 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), (), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Campbell 1997
Deaf Population: 3,000–600,000
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Nicaragua is 11. All are living languages. Of these, 9 are indigenous and 2 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 2 are developing, 2 are in trouble, and 5 are dying. Also listed are 2 unestablished languages.

Languages

Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 14,000 in Nicaragua (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
English eng: Users: 7,000 in Nicaragua (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Garifuna cab: South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region: Orinoco village. Users: No known L1 speakers in Nicaragua (2012 R. Reeck). Ethnic population: 3,270 (2005 census). Status: 9 (Dormant). Recognized language (1993, Official Language Use, Atlantic Autonomous Regions, Law No. 162, Article 4). Alternate Names: Black Carib, Caribe, Central American Carib, Garífuna, “Moreno” (pej.) Classification: Maipurean, Northern, Maritime, Ta-Maipurean, Iñeri
Mangue mom: Scattered. North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region: highlands. Users: No known L1 speakers. The last fluent speaker either died or shifted to Spanish by the early 1870s; some rememberers survived into the late 1880s (Brinton 1886). Ethnic population: 46,000 (2005 census). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Chorotega, Monimbo Classification: Unclassified
Matagalpa mtn: Jinotega and Matagalpa departments; Central highlands. Users: No known L1 speakers. The last speaker died in 1997. Ethnic population: 15,000 (2005 census). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Pantasmas Classification: Misumalpan, Sumu-Cacaopera-Matagalpa, Cacaopera-Matagalpa
Mayangna yan: Jinotega department; North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region: Bambana and Tungi along Waspuk river; Santo Tomás de Umbra on the upper Wawa; Panamahka dialect along Wanki river; Tuahka dialect: Wasakin area near Rosita. Users: 8,000 in Nicaragua (Adelaar 2007). 8,540 (2005 census). Ethnic population: 9,760 (2005 census). Total users in all countries: 8,700. Status: 5* (Developing). Classification: Misumalpan
Mískito miq: Jinotega department; North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region and South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region; Bihmuna, Bocana de Paiwas, Bonanza, Karawala, Leimus, Prinzapolka, Puerto Cabeza city, Rosita, San Carlos (Río Coco), Sangnilaya, Sisin, Siuna, Tronquera, Wasla, Waspam; Río Coco area and Pearl lagoon to Black river coast and lowlands. Users: 114,000 in Nicaragua (2009 UNSD). Ethnic population: 121,000 (2005 census). Total users in all countries: 143,000. Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (1993, Official Language Use, Atlantic Autonomous Regions, Law No. 162, Article 4). Alternate Names: Marquito, Miskuto, Mosquito, Mísquito Autonym: Mískitu Classification: Misumalpan
Nicaragua English Creole bzk: Scattered. North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region and South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region: Bluefields region, Corn islands, Pearl lagoon, Prinzapolka, Puerto Cabezas, Rama Cay island. Users: 18,400 (2009 UNSD). 630 Rama Cay Creole speakers (Holm 1989). Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Official Language Use, Atlantic Autonomous Regions, Law No. 162, Article 4). Alternate Names: Mískito Coast English Creole Autonym: Creole Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Western
Nicaraguan Sign Language ncs: Scattered, especially Managua. Users: 6,200 (2019 ANSNIC). Estimated assuming 0.1% of the general population. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: ISN, Idioma de Señas de Nicaragua, Lengua de Signos Nicaragüense, Lenguaje de Signos Nicaragüense, NSL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Rama rma: South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region: Rama Cay, 30-mile radius. Users: 740 (2009 UNSD). Ethnic population: 4,190 (2005 census). Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (1993, Official Language Use, Atlantic Autonomous Regions, Law No. 162, Article 4). Classification: Chibchan, Chibchan B, Votic
Spanish spa: Users: 6,344,000 in Nicaragua, all users. L1 users: 6,160,000 in Nicaragua (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 184,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1987, Constitution, Article 11). Alternate Names: Castellano, Español Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Subtiaba sut: León department: Pacific slope. Users: No known L1 speakers. The last speaker probably died in the 1920s (Bright 1990). Ethnic population: 20,000 (2005 census). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Subtiava Classification: Otomanguean, Western Otomanguean, Tlapanec-Manguean, Tlapanec-Subtiaba
Ulwa ulw: South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region: Karawala village. Users: 350 (2009 J. Mejia). 83 (2005 census). Ethnic population: 700 (2005 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (1993, Official Language Use, Atlantic Autonomous Regions, Law No. 162, Article 4). Alternate Names: Sumu, Ulúa, Woolwa Classification: Misumalpan

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Spanish

[spa] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1987, Constitution, Article 11). 6,344,000 in Nicaragua, all users. L1 users: 6,160,000 in Nicaragua (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 184,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).

4 (Educational)

Nicaragua English Creole

[bzk] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (1993, Official Language Use, Atlantic Autonomous Regions, Law No. 162, Article 4). 18,400 (2009 UNSD). 630 Rama Cay Creole speakers (Holm 1989).

5 (Developing)

Mayangna

[yan] 5* (Developing). 8,000 in Nicaragua (Adelaar 2007). 8,540 (2005 census). Ethnic population: 9,760 (2005 census). Total users in all countries: 8,700.

Nicaraguan Sign Language

[ncs] 5 (Developing). 6,200 (2019 ANSNIC). Estimated assuming 0.1% of the general population.

6b (Threatened)

Mískito

[miq] 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (1993, Official Language Use, Atlantic Autonomous Regions, Law No. 162, Article 4). 114,000 in Nicaragua (2009 UNSD). Ethnic population: 121,000 (2005 census). Total users in all countries: 143,000.

Ulwa

[ulw] 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (1993, Official Language Use, Atlantic Autonomous Regions, Law No. 162, Article 4). 350 (2009 J. Mejia). 83 (2005 census). Ethnic population: 700 (2005 census).

8a (Moribund)

Rama

[rma] 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (1993, Official Language Use, Atlantic Autonomous Regions, Law No. 162, Article 4). 740 (2009 UNSD). Ethnic population: 4,190 (2005 census).

9 (Dormant)

Garifuna

[cab] 9 (Dormant). Recognized language (1993, Official Language Use, Atlantic Autonomous Regions, Law No. 162, Article 4). No known L1 speakers in Nicaragua (2012 R. Reeck). Ethnic population: 3,270 (2005 census).

Mangue

[mom] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers. The last fluent speaker either died or shifted to Spanish by the early 1870s; some rememberers survived into the late 1880s (Brinton 1886). Ethnic population: 46,000 (2005 census).

Matagalpa

[mtn] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers. The last speaker died in 1997. Ethnic population: 15,000 (2005 census).

Subtiaba

[sut] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers. The last speaker probably died in the 1920s (Bright 1990). Ethnic population: 20,000 (2005 census).

Unestablished

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] Unestablished. 14,000 in Nicaragua (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

English

[eng] Unestablished. 7,000 in Nicaragua (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Maps

Nicaragua

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Nicaragua with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Nicaragua 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 Nicaragua with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Nicaragua 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 Nicaragua 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 Nicaragua ($149.95, 24 page PDF)

Nicaragua

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Nicaragua

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action