Page Type: languagePalenquero | Ethnologue

PLN ISO 639-3

Palenquero

A language of Colombia

ISO 639
pln
Alternate Names
Lengua, Palenque
Population
500 (Holm 1989). Ethnic population: 3,500.
Location:
Atlántico department: border area and 2 neighborhoods in Barranquilla; Bolivar department: San Basilio de Palenque village southeast of Cartagena.
Language Status
6b (Threatened).
Classification
Creole, Spanish based
Dialects
None known. Linguistic influences from Koongo [kng] in Democratic Republic of the Congo (Hancock 1987).
Language Use
Some young people, all adults. 10% of those under 25 speak it (1998 A. Schwegler), and younger people are increasingly learning it as L2 and marker of identity (2011 A. Schwegler). Positive attitudes. Also use Spanish [spa].
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Palenquero
Writing
Unwritten [Qaax].
Other Comments
People are culturally distinct from nearby Spanish [spa] speakers. Palenque is Spanish for a fortified village of runaway slaves.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Atlántico department: border area and 2 neighborhoods in Barranquilla; Bolivar department: San Basilio de Palenque village southeast of Cartagena.