Guyana

Guyana
Official Languages
The official language of Guyana is English.  Guyanese Creole is widely spoken.  This type of Creole has African and East Indian influence.  Also, there are 17 languages listed that are spoken in Guyana.  Out of those 17, there is one that is not spoken at this present time because there are no speakers.  Among these other languages includes English Creole and Amerindian dialects.  There is some communication among the Hindus in Hindi and among the Muslims in Urdu found throughout Guyana.  The Guyanese have several languages due to the influence of the Europeans, Americans and Indians.  Caribbean languages like Akawaio and Macushi are spoken by a small amount of people in Guyana. 

History
In the 16^th century, the Dutch arrived and they were the first to build a colony.  They brought slaves that spoke different languages.  One of the main people among the slaves brought by the Dutch was Muslims who spoke Arabic.  In the late 18^th century, the British took control and the Dutch left the area.  At this time the area was known as British Guiana.  After slavery was abolished and the British arrived, English replaced Dutch.  All literate immigrants in Guyana had an excellent command in Urdu and were easily identified to fill the roles of teachers and Imams.  Guyana became independent from the United Kingdom in May of 1966.  Following that, they became a republic in February 1970.  Until the 1970s, Urdu remained the dominant language used for the Islamic people to communicate their history morals and to educate the people.

 

Interesting Facts
The literacy rate of Guyana is 91%.  Along with that, the population is 740,000 people.  Out of that population, 43,000 of them are Amerindians.  There are 17 individual languages listed for this country.  Out of those, there is only one dead language with no known speakers.  It is the third smallest country in South America’s mainland.  Spanish and French are both taught as a second language in the schools.  Portuguese is also widely used as a second language throughout Guyana.  Despite the many influences that the people in Guyana receive from the Europeans and Americans, it is still very easy for them to communicate.  It is the only English speaking country of South America.  Guyana is often called the Land of 6 People.  

Colombia

The Republic of Colombia

Official Languages
The official language of Colombia is Spanish.  In Colombia, there are 500,000 speakers of American Indian Languages.  A few of the immigrant languages include Catalan-Valencian-Balear, Yagua and Yuhup.  Out of the 101 languages in Colombia, 81 are still spoken today.  Some of those extinct languages include Anserma, Arma and Barbacoas.  Along with those three, in total there are 21 languages that are extinct.  Achagua is one of the most important languages in Colombia.  It is spoken by people who are in the eastern region of Colombia.  It is part of the Maipurean Arawakan language group. 

History
In around 10,000 BC, Colombia had indigenous people settled there.  In the early 1500’s the Spanish settled along the north coast of Columbia.  In 1886 the republic of Colombia was declared, as it was previously called the United States of Columbia.  In Colombia, before there was the Spanish control there were many indigenous people and this is why there are still some languages from the indigenous people.  The first group to come to Colombia was the Spanish colonists and then after came the immigration of some Europeans in 1499.  Around the start of the 20^th century there were a number of Europeans and people from North America that migrated to Colombia.  All of these historic events have come to influence Colombia and the languages that are still around there. 

Interesting Facts
The population of Colombia is almost 45 million people.  The literacy rate is 70% for the country of Columbia.  In Colombia there is no college.  After the students get done with their equivalent of high school, they either go to a technical school or a school to train them in the career that they want.  Colombia is at the crossroads for Central America and North America.  The Spanish that they speak in the Republic of Colombia is in some peoples opinion a good Spanish for learners because they have a very neutral accent.  There is English taught in the public education throughout the Republic of Colombia.  Although, it is taught to the people in Colombia, there are very few people who can speak English.  

Panama

Panama
Official Languages
Spanish is the official language of Panama.  Although it is Spanish, 14% of the population can speak English fluently.  Other languages include Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic and Eastern Yiddish and Korean are spoken by a small group of people in Panama.  Also, there are 14 traditional Panama languages.  Some include San Miguel Creole French, Panamanian Creole English and Teribe.  In Panama 93% of the people speaks Spanish.  Along with that, there are many people who speak English.  Also here the speakers of French make up 4% and Arabic make up 1%.   

History
A sailor from Venezuela was the first European to get to Panama.  He was heading there in 1501 in order to try to find gold.  The Cuevas and the Cocle tribes were the first known people in Panama until they were wiped out by the Spanish’s arrival in the 16^th century.  The Spanish had control over Panama for 300 years.  Panama started out as a destiny for its geography.  The Isthmus of Panama was seen as a connection between the two oceans.  The Real Audiencia de Panama was first stabled in 1538. Panama was extremely important to Spain because it was the most east way to ship things from Peru to Europe.  In 1821, Panama announced their separation from Spain.  At first Panama was a part of Columbia.  In 1903, Panama finally had its independence from Columbia.  In the 19^th century, the first people from Chinese immigrated to Panama to help build the Panama railroad. 

Interesting Facts
In many schools throughout Panama are starting to teach English in their education programs.  The literacy rate in Panama is 88%.  More than half of the population in Panama lives in the Panam City-Colon metro area.  There have been some historians who have said that in Panama 50% of the population has some sort of African descent.  According to population, Panama is the smallest Spanish speaking Latin American country.  Baseball, boxing and basketball are all very popular throughout Panama.  The population is right over three million people in Panama.  

Costa Rica

Costa Rica
Official Languages
The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish.  It is also the most predominant language.  The Spanish spoken in Costa Rica is also a form of the Spanish from Central America.  Also spoken in Costa Rica are some Chibchan languages.  This includes Boruca and Bribri.  There is one extinct language called the Chorotega from the Oto-Manguean language.  Due to the Jamaican laborers that are on the east coast of the country there are a few other languages that are found within Costa Rica.  This includes English-based creole language and Limonese Creole.  Some indigenous languages that are still spoken there include Maleku, Cabecar and Ngabere languages.  Some of these today, still have thousands of speakers and some only a few hundred. 

History
Compared to other nations in the Americas, Costa Rica has had a smaller influence from the indigenous people.  There are only a couple indigenous languages spoken in Costa Rica due to intermarriage and their absorption of the Spanish language.  Costa Rica never fought for their own independence from Spain.  It wasn’t until Guatemala claimed all of Central America to be independent from Spain that Costa Rica became independent.  The Spanish conquerers arrived in the 16^th century.  This, along with many other Central American countries is why Spanish is so relevant in Costa Rica. 

Interesting Facts
Costa Ricans are sometimes called ticos because they add tico to other words.  For example, blanquito would be say blanquitico.  This is where they get they nick name tico.  They also use a lot of terms of endearments.  Although, this should not be confused with being a mean name to call someone.  For example, they sometimes call someone gordo but do not actually mean that in a negative way.  The people from Costa Rica are said to speak slower than those from other Latin American countries.  They are also very respectful when it comes to people trying to learn Spanish.  Coffee is their major export.   The literacy rate is 93%.  The population is right over 4 million people in Costa Rica.  

Nicaragua

Nicaragua

Official Languages
In Nicaragua, 90% of the population speaks Nicañol as Nicaraguan Spanish is often called.  The voseo form is also common like in Honduras.  In Nicaraguan phonology some of the characteristics include s at the end of a syllable.  It is also found before a consonant and when it is found before a consonant it is pronounced like an h.  Like there is in some places in the Caribbean, there is not confusion between l and r.   Many indigenous languages are still present including Miskito, Sumo and Rama.  The most common indigenous language is Miskito.  This is spoken in the northeast of Nicaragua, along the Caribbean coast.  Sumo has great variations in dialects and sometimes the dialects can even be considered different languages.  Rama has died out greatly and most have become English speakers since the 1980’s.  Only an estimated 36 fluent speakers were found in 1992.  The Spanish spoken in Nicaragua is different than Spain Spanish when it comes to some words used and pronunciation.  Although it is different, if you are a Spanish speaker you will be able to talk to the people in Nicaragua.  There are many groups in Nicaragua who have upheld their ancestral language and also speak Spanish and or English.  These include Chinese, Arabic, German and Italian.

History
In the early 1500’s, when the Spanish came to western Nicaragua, they found three different tribes.  Each of these tribes had their own culture and language.  The Creole’s are the descendants of colonial era slaves, Jamaican merchants and west Indian laborers.  In the 1850’s, during the Gold Rush in California, many people from the United States came through Nicaragua to get to California.  They found that this was safer than crossing the continental United States.  Then Nicaragua became a rival with the United States and Britain.  Both of these countries wanted to establish control over a route through the ocean.  They considered by land or through the pacific.  Two cities in Nicaragua were founded in 1524 by the Spanish.  In 1625, the English had arrived and decided to declare it a British Protectorate.  In 1838, Nicaragua finally gained full independence.  The United States sent troops to back up the new conservative government from 1912 to 1925. 

Interesting Facts
Nicaraguan Sign Language is very interesting to linguists as it is the youngest language of the World.  The extinct languages include Matagalpa, Monimbo, Subtiaba, Mangue and Nicarao.  There are 4 million Spanish speakers, 154,000 Miskito speakers and 20,000 English speakers.  Along with that, there are 30,000 that speak Creole English.  The literacy rate of Nicaragua is around 66%-74%.  The population of Nicaragua is right around 5.5 million people.  English is popular throughout Nicaragua because it is taught in schools and also because many people living in Nicaragua have families in the United States.  According to the laws of Nicaragua, schools are taught in Spanish.  This is even true if it isn’t the language spoke in the region.  Grammar in Nicaragua follows that of Central America.  There are many differences than formal Spanish.  American and British English has had an influence on the Spanish spoken in Nicaragua.  Some of the Miskito speakers have dodged being sucked into the Spanish culture and language.

Honduras

Honduras

Official Languages
Spanish is the official language spoken in Honduras.  Along with Spanish, also spoken on a regular basis are Garifuna, Arabic, English and Miskito.  Out of those, English is the most widely used as a second language.  The people who speak English in Honduras are of Afro-Caribbean ascent.  These people are mostly found on the islands near the north coast of Honduras.  These are also called the Bay Islands.  Garifuna is spoken along the Caribbean coast.  This is a Creole that has elements of English, Spanish and French.  The Honduras’ Spanish is a little different as you will find some words that are not spoken by other Spanish speaking countries.  Only a few thousand people are found speaking indigenous languages on a regular basis and they are found speaking Miskito. 

History
When the Spanish arrived, the strongest and most used language was Mayan, although, there was great linguistic diversity from the indigenous tribes that were there at the time of the Spanish arrival.  By 1824, Spanish fighters were busy fighting with the indigenous people of Honduras.  The reason that there are less indigenous people found in Honduras is because during these wars with the Spanish, many died due to disease and becoming slaves.After the deterioration of the Mayan culture, different groups inhabited different areas of the territory of Honduras.  Their languages show a connection to the Toltecs and Aztecs of Mexico, Chibchas of Columbia and also some tribes in the Southwestern part of the United States.  The Lencas also lived in the western-central part of Honduras and spoke a language of unknown origin.

Interesting Facts

Accredited bilingual schools from primary school through high school provide a quality education.  Graduates are often accepted in U.S. Ivy League schools.  At most birthday parties throughout Honduras you will find people singing the happy birthday song in English.  The literacy rate is 56%-60%.  The population of Honduras is a little over 8 million people.  One war that they were in with El Salvador was named the Football War because it started during a football game.  Part of the reason that English is more widely used in Honduras is because the United States helped in the late 19^th century with banana plantations to help develop the northern regions.  Honduras literally means depths in Spanish.  

El Salvador

El Salvador

Official Languages
Spanish is the official language in El Salvador.  It is also referred to as Castillian.  There are 6 individual languages in El Salvador.  One of which has no speakers at this time.  Nahua is an indigenous language that is still spoken by Amerindians in the Western region.  Also, Nahua is only used by members of the elderly community of Salvadorans.  The local native indigenous language that is derived from Spanish is called Caliche.  There is a small population of Japenese people in El Salvador since after World War II.   This leads to Japenese being spoken around El Salvador a little as well.  Some of the local languages are Cacaopera, Qeqchi, Lenca and Pipil.  Immigrant languages include Central Pokoman, Turkish and Chinese.  Q’eqchi is spoken by immigrants of Guatemalan and Belizean indigenous people living in El Salvador.

History
In 1520, many of the indigenous people were affected by the smallpox that spread throughout El Salvador.  This led their population to lose about 80% of the people.  In June 1524, the Spanish captain started a war and later conquered El Salvador which put the country under Spanish rule.  This led to them speaking Spanish at this time.  Before this, many Indian dialects were spoken and this is how Nahua was introduced into El Salvador.  At this time, Nahuatl was spoken in the center of the country and Poton was found being spoken in the east.  This was on going until the Spanish took over.  After the Spanish started to rule, the dialects slowly diminished.   

Interesting Facts
The literacy rate of El Salvador ranges from 55%-63%.  The languages that are spoken as native languages are part of the custom in El Salvador and are expected to be reserved and respected.  There is also a form of Salvadoran Sign Language.  The population of El Salvador is about 7 million people.  The government tried to help Nahua to stay around and be preserved but it turned out to be not successful.  In private schools, French, Dutch and German are taught as a second language.  In El Salvador, many use voseo which refers to vos instead of using tu when using the second person pronoun.  In September 15^th, 1821, they finally gained their independence from the Spanish rule and joined Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras.  After gaining their independence, they maintained speaking the Spanish language.