domingo, 27 de mayo de 2012

Venezuela


Venezuela
Official Languages
Spanish is the official language of Venezuela.  Along with Spanish there are about 40 other indigenous languages spoken.  These languages are on the verge of being extinct.  There are about 40 still living languages and 6 that are dead languages that have no known speakers.  There are about 40 languages spoken by approximately 530,000 people.  Italian, Chinese, Portuguese, Arabic and English are spoken foreign languages throughout Venezuela.  The Indians in Venezuela speak around 25 different languages.  The Spanish spoken in Venezuela is different than the Spanish spoken in Latin America.  Venezuelan Spanish differs in pronunciation and also has variation in vocabulary from the Spanish spoken throughout Spain.  In Venezuela, they call their language Castellano.  This language also shortens words.  An example of this is changing “para” into “par.”  Originally from Southern Spain and the Canary Islands, this and other traits are common to other Spanish variations. 



History
Before the Spanish Conquest, it is unknown how many people were living in Venezuela.  The colonization by the Spanish started in 1522.  Venezuela was ruled by Spain by the late 1500’s.  Spaniards brought slaves from Africa and these two groups along with the Native Indians shared the land although the Spaniards still held power.  In 1810, the Creole’s rose against the Spanish and declared their independence.  The day that they declared their independence was on July 5th, 1811.  They have had their independence since that day.  In the 2000’s, there were about 50,000 Italians in Venezuela. 


Interesting Facts
The population of Venezuela is around 26 million people.  The literacy rate is right around 88 percent.  English is not spoken or understood in many part of Venezuela, even the bigger cities.  Although, it is not a popularly spoken language, English has a high demand.  There are many professionals and professors that speak English.  Along with that, there are people of middle and high class also that speak English.  English is taught in secondary education for at least 5 years.   It is continued through at least 9th grade.   French is also taught as an obligatory subject.   The name of Venezuela comes from an Italian who called the land “Little Venice.”

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