Jamaica

Summary

Official Name

International Conventions

CDE (2006), CPPDCE (2007), CSICH (2010), ICCPR (1975), UNCRPD (2007), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

2,948,000

Principal Languages

English

Literacy Rate

89% (2015 World Factbook)

General References

Hall 1966, Holm 1989

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Jamaica is 4. All are living languages. Of these, 3 are indigenous and 1 is non-indigenous. Furthermore, 1 is institutional, 2 are developing, and 1 is in trouble. Also listed are 4 unestablished languages.

Languages

Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc: Users: 22,000 in Jamaica (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Chinese, Hakka hak: Users: 76,000 in Jamaica (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
English eng: Users: 86,000 in Jamaica, all users. L1 users: 36,000 in Jamaica (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. L2 users: 50,000 (Crystal 2003a). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Jamaican English Creole jam: Widespread. Users: 2,670,000 in Jamaica (2001). Total users in all countries: 3,043,280. Status: 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Bongo Talk, Jamaican Patois, Jimiekn, Jimiekn Langwij, Jumieka Kruyol, Jumieka Languij, Jumieka Langwij, Jumieka Taak, Jumiekan, Jumiekan Kriol, Jumiekan languij, Langui Jumieka, Patois, Patua, Patwa, Patwah, Southwestern Caribbean English Creole, “Quashie Talk” (pej.) Autonym: Jamiekan Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Western
Jamaican Sign Language jls: Scattered. Users: 7,500 (2011 E. Parks). Approximately 0.3% of the total population. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: JSL, Jamaica Sign Language Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Konchri Sain jcs: Primarily in St. Elizabeth Parish, near Top Hill. Users: 40 (Parks et al 2011b), decreasing. Approximately 40 deaf L1 users, number of hearing L1 users is unknown. 4 monolinguals (2016 B. Gayle). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Country Sign, Jamaican Country Sign Language, KS Classification: Sign language, Shared sign language
Portuguese por: Users: 6,000 in Jamaica (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
Spanish spa: Users: 8,000 in Jamaica (Instituto Cervantes 2019). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian

Languages by Status

1 (National)

English

[eng] 1 (National). De facto national language. 86,000 in Jamaica, all users. L1 users: 36,000 in Jamaica (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. L2 users: 50,000 (Crystal 2003a).

5 (Developing)

Jamaican English Creole

[jam] 5* (Developing). De facto language of national identity. 2,670,000 in Jamaica (2001). Total users in all countries: 3,043,280.

Jamaican Sign Language

[jls] 5 (Developing). 7,500 (2011 E. Parks). Approximately 0.3% of the total population.

7 (Shifting)

Konchri Sain

[jcs] 7 (Shifting). 40 (Parks et al 2011b), decreasing. Approximately 40 deaf L1 users, number of hearing L1 users is unknown. 4 monolinguals (2016 B. Gayle).