Languages of the Guianas

[vijayjohn]

The Guianas are made up of two countries and an overseas department of France, namely, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, respectively. Their respective official languages are English, Dutch, and French, but there are several other languages spoken in each of these countries. Guyanese Creole English is spoken in Guyana, Guianese Creole French is spoken in French Guiana, and various English-based creoles are spoken in Suriname, not to mention several immigrant languages that have been spoken in these areas for hundreds of years. In addition, Cariban and Maipurean languages (in particular, Lokono a.k.a. Arawak) are spoken in all three of these areas, and two Tupi–Guaraní languages, Emerillon and Wayambi, are spoken in French Guiana near the eastern border with Brazil.