Languages of Aruba
There are many languages spoken on the Caribbean island of Aruba. The official languages are Papiamento and Dutch, but most Arubans speak a minimum of four languages, including English and Spanish. Schools require students to learn English, Spanish and to a lesser extent French. According to the Government of Aruba the mother tongue and primary vernacular of almost all Arubans is a local language known as Papiamento,[1] an Afro-Portuguese Creole language spoken since the 16th century. The language, however, was not widespread in Aruba till the 18th and 19th centuries when most materials on the island and even Roman Catholic schoolbooks were written in Papiamento.
Dutch has been one of the official languages of the island for years as the island is a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. However, Dutch is the sole language for most administrative and legal matters.[2] Aruba has recognized English as an international language, and has required that children learn English as early as the 4th grade. Use of English dates to the early 19th century, when the British took Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire; when Dutch rule resumed in 1815, officials noted the already widespread use of the language.[3]. Since May 2003, Papiamento has also been an official language, alongside Dutch. Aruba's location off the coast of South America has also made Spanish extremely important. Students begin learning this as early as 5th grade. Spanish became an important language in the 18th century due to the close economic ties with Spanish colonies in what are now Venezuela and Colombia,[4] and several Venezuelan TV networks are received, and the fact that Aruba has Venezuelan and Colombian residents. Around 12.6% of the population today speaks Spanish.[5]
Papiamento is a language with roots mainly from Portuguese, and to a lesser extent, from Dutch, Spanish and English. It originated in the 16th century as a pidgin language for communication among slaves and slave drivers.
Papiamento was not considered important on Aruba until 1995. It was officially included in the school curriculum in 1998 and 1999. Since then, the island has embraced this native language. A Papiamento dictionary and fairy tales written in Papiamento are now readily available on the island.
Aruba is a polyglot society. Most of Aruba's population is able to converse in at least two of the languages of Papiamento, Dutch, English, and Spanish.
Selected Aruban Papiamento phrases
| Papiamento | Spanish | Portuguese | Dutch | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bon dia | Buenos días | Bom dia | Goedemorgen | Good morning |
| Bon tardi | Buenas tardes | Boa tarde | Goedemiddag | Good afternoon |
| Bon nochi | Buenas noches | Boa noite | Goedenacht/Goedenavond | Good night |
| Bon bini | Bienvenido | Bem vindo | Welkom | Welcome |
| Danki | Gracias | Obrigado | Dank u/Dank je | Thank you |
| Ayo | Adiós | Adeus | Tot ziens | Good-bye |
| Pasa un bon dia | Que tenga un buen día | Passa/Tenha um bom dia | Fijne dag | Have a good day |
| Con cos ta?
(Informal) Con ta bai? (Formal) |
¿Cómo estás?/¿Cómo te va? | Como está/vai? | Hoe gaat het? | How are you? |
| Mi ta bon | (Yo) Estoy bien | (Eu) Estou bem | Met mij gaat het goed | I am fine |
| Cuant'or tin? | ¿Qué hora es?/¿Qué horas son? | Que hora tem?/Que horas são? | Hoe laat is het? | What time is it? |
| Mi por papia Papiamento | (Yo) Puedo hablar papiamento | (Eu) Posso falar papiamento | Ik spreek Papiaments | I can speak Papiamento |
| Si | Sí | Sim | Ja | Yes |
| No | No | Não | Nee | No |
| Aruba ta bunita | Aruba es bonita | Aruba é bonita | Aruba is mooi | Aruba is beautiful |
References
- ^ "Language" - Government of Aruba (official site) - 2010
- ^ "About Us". DutchCaribbeanLegalPortal.com. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
- ^ Dede pikiña ku su bisiña: Papiamentu-Nederlands en de onverwerkt verleden tijd. van Putte, Florimon., 1999. Zutphen: de Walburg Pers
- ^ Dede pikiña ku su bisiña: Papiamentu-Nederlands en de onverwerkt verleden tijd. van Putte, Florimon., 1999. Zutphen: de Walburg Pers
- ^ Central Intelligence Agency (2009). "Aruba". The World Factbook. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)
