Martinique

Summary

Official Name

Department of Martinique

Population

376,000

Principal Languages

French

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Martinique is 4. All are living languages. Of these, 1 is indigenous and 3 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 1 is institutional, 2 are vigorous, and 1 is dying.

Languages

French fra: Users: 312,000 in Martinique, all users. L1 users: 15,000 in Martinique (2019). L2 users: 297,000 (2018). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1958, French Constitution, Article 2). Alternate Names: Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
French Sign Language fsl: Scattered. Users: 1,100 in Martinique (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 750–1,500 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of total population. Another estimate: 400–3,200 (Parks and Williams 2011). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Lesser Antillean French Creole acf: Widespread. Users: 361,000 in Martinique (2019). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). De facto language of national identity. Alternate Names: Kwéyòl, Patois, Patwa Classification: Creole, French based

Languages by Status

1 (National)

French

[fra] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1958, French Constitution, Article 2). 312,000 in Martinique, all users. L1 users: 15,000 in Martinique (2019). L2 users: 297,000 (2018).

6a (Vigorous)

Lesser Antillean French Creole

[acf] 6a* (Vigorous). De facto language of national identity. 361,000 in Martinique (2019).

French Sign Language

[fsl] 6a* (Vigorous). 1,100 in Martinique (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 750–1,500 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of total population. Another estimate: 400–3,200 (Parks and Williams 2011).