Suriname

Summary

Official Name: Republic of Suriname
Population: 591,800
Principal Languages: Dutch, Sranan Tongo
Literacy Rate: 94% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Campbell 1997, Crevels 2007
Deaf Population: 490–26,000
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Suriname is 22. All are living languages. Of these, 12 are indigenous and 10 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 6 are developing, 1 is vigorous, 3 are in trouble, and 9 are dying. Also listed are 3 unestablished languages.

Languages

Akurio ako: Sipaliwini district: Trio villages Tëpu, Kwamalasamutu, and Palumeu on Tapanahoni and Sipaliwini rivers. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last known speaker survived into the first decade of the 2000s; 2 semi-speakers (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 40 (Crevels 2012). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Akoerio, Akuliyo, Akuri, Akurijo, Akuriyo, Oyaricoulet, Triometesem, Triometesen, Wama, Wayaricuri Classification: Cariban, Tiriyó, Tiriyó
Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Users: 1,200 in Suriname (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arawak arw: Commewijne and Para districts: villages from coast to 30 km inland, mainly on the savanna. Users: 500 in Suriname (Crevels 2012). Very few monolinguals. Ethnic population: 2,000 (Crevels 2012). Total users in all countries: 2,510. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Araguaco, Arahuaco, Arahuacos, Arawac, Arowak, Arrowukas, Aruak, Aruaqui, Arwuak, Lokono, Luccumi Autonym: Lokono Dian Classification: Maipurean, Northern, Maritime, Ta-Maipurean
Aukan djk: Brokopondo district: Sarakreek commune; Commewijne district: Bakkie, Meerzog, and Tamanredjo communes; Marowijne district: Moengo, Patamacca, and Wanhatti communes; Para district: Carolina commune; Sipaliwini district: Tapanahony commune; Aluku dialect: French Guiana border; Paramaccan dialect: Northeast. Users: 45,300 in Suriname (2018). 1,550 monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 67,800. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Aukaans, Businenge Tongo, Businengee Tongo, Eastern Maroon Creole, Ndjuká, Ndyuka, Ndyuka tongo, Nenge, Nenge Tongo, Nengee Tongo, Njuká, Okanisi, “Djoeka” (pej.), “Djuka” (pej.) Autonym: Okanisi tongo Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Suriname, Ndyuka
Carib car: Coronie district: Welgelegen commune; Marowijne district: Albina and Galibi communes; Para district: Bigi Poika commune; Saramacca district: Calcutta commune; Sipaliwini district: Boven Coppename commune. Users: 1,200 in Suriname (Carlin 2001). Ethnic population: 3,000 (Crevels 2012). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Caribe, Cariña, Galibí, Kali’na, Kalihna, Kalinya, Kara’ibs, Kari’na, Kari’na auran, Kari’nja, Kari’nya, Kari’ña, Karìna, Maraworno Classification: Cariban
Chinese, Hakka hak: Saramacca district: scattered. Users: 9,000 in Suriname (2018), decreasing. Ethnic population: 12,000 (1971). Includes Yue [yue]. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Kejia Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Yue yue: Para, Paramaribo, and Wanica districts. Users: 6,700 in Suriname (2018). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Dutch nld: Users: 126,200 in Suriname, all users. L1 users: 1,200 in Suriname (2018). L2 users: 125,000 (2005). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Alternate Names: Nederlands Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
English eng: Scattered. Users: 202,200 in Suriname, all users. L1 users: 1,200 in Suriname (2019). L2 users: 201,000 (2019). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Engels Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Guyanese English Creole gyn: Nickerie district: Courantyne river mouth. Users: 68,000 in Suriname (2018). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Creolese, Gaiyniiz, Guyanese Creole Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Eastern, Southern
Hindustani, Sarnami hns: Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, and Wanica districts; north coast. Users: 153,000 in Suriname (2018). Ethnic population: 160,000 (2003). Total users in all countries: 299,400. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Caribbean Bharatiya, Caribbean Hindi, Caribbean Hindustani, Caribbean Urdu, Sarnami Hindi, Sarnami Hindoestani Autonym: Sarnaanie Hiendoestaanie Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bihari
Indonesian ind: Users: 18,900 in Suriname (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Javanese, Suriname jvn: Commewijne, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, and Wanica districts; north coast. Users: 75,500 in Suriname (2018). Total users in all countries: 78,440. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Caribbean Javanese, Surinaams Javaans Autonym: Jawa Suriname Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Javanese
Kwinti kww: Sipaliwini district: Coppename river area, upstream from Kaimanstan and Witagron. Users: 250 (2018), decreasing. Status: 6b (Threatened). Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Suriname, Ndyuka
Mawayana mzx: Sipaliwini district. Users: 2 in Suriname (2013 M. Michels), decreasing. Ethnic population: 40 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Classification: Maipurean, Unclassified
Ndyuka-Trio Pidgin njt: Sipaliwini district: upper Tapanahonij river. Users: No known L1 speakers. Ethnic population: No ethnic community. Status: 9 (Second language only). Classification: Pidgin
Saramaccan srm: Brokopondo district: Brownsweg, Centrum, Klasskreek, and Kwakoegron, communes, small border area; Para district: Bigi Poika commune; Paramaribo district; Sipaliwini district: Boven Saramaccan and Boven Suriname communes. Users: 31,500 in Suriname (2018). Total users in all countries: 34,500. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Saramaccaans Autonym: Saamáka Classification: Creole, English based
Sign Language of the Netherlands dse: Scattered. Users: 2,000 in Suriname (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 1,100–2,300 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of total population. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Sikiana sik: Sipaliwini district: Kwamalasamutu area on Sipaliwini river. Users: 12 in Suriname (Crevels 2012), decreasing. Ethnic population: 60 (Crevels 2012). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Chikena, Sikiuyana, Sikiyana, Sikïiyana, Tshikiana Classification: Cariban, Kashuyana
Spanish spa: Users: 3,300 in Suriname (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Sranan Tongo srn: Widespread. Users: 291,000 in Suriname, all users. L1 users: 141,000 in Suriname (2018). L2 users: 150,000 (2016). Total users in all countries: 669,600 (as L1: 519,600; as L2: 150,000). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Suriname’s lingua franca since 1725. First used as communication among slaves, and as a trade language. Now used by majority of people. Alternate Names: Sranan, Surinaams, Suriname Creole English, Surinamese, “Taki-Taki” (pej.) Autonym: Sranan Tongo Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Suriname
Trió tri: Sipaliwini district: Kwamalasamutu on Sipaliwini river, Palumeu on Palumeu river, Tëpu on upper Tapanahoni river. Users: 1,300 in Suriname (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 1,300 (Crevels 2012). Total users in all countries: 2,460. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Tiriyó, Tirió Autonym: Tarëno ijomi Classification: Cariban, Tiriyó, Tiriyó
Waiwai waw: Sipaliwini district: Kwamalasamutu area, Sipaliwini river, among Trio [tri] language speakers. Users: 10 in Suriname (Crevels 2007), decreasing. Ethnic population: 80 (Crevels 2007). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Katuena Classification: Cariban, Waiwai
Warao wba: Nickerie district: near Guyana border. Users: 500 in Suriname (2018). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Guarao, Guarauno, Warrau Classification: Language isolate
Wayana way: Marowijne district: upper Tapanahoni river; northwest of Trio [tri] language speakers. Users: 450 in Suriname (Crevels 2012). Ethnic population: 450 (Crevels 2012). Total users in all countries: 1,740. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Alukuyana, Ayana, Oayana, Oiana, Oyana, Roucouyenne, Uaiana, Upurui, Wajana Autonym: Wayâna Classification: Cariban, Central, Wayana

Maps

French Guiana and Suriname

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Suriname with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Suriname 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 Suriname with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Suriname 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 Suriname 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 Suriname ($149.95, 30 page PDF)

Suriname

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

French Guiana and Suriname

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action