The+Language+Used+in+EL+Salvador

By: Amber Hull
Spanish is the official language of El Salvador, spoken by the large majority of it’s people, although there are a total of five languages that are used to communicate in the country. These languages are Kekchi, Lenca, Pipil, Salvadoran Sign Language, and Spanish. (Lewis, 2009) Kekchi is a language that was originally spoken by the Mayans, and is included in the subgroup of Quichean. (Campbell, 1974) A very small percentage of the Salvadorians commonly speak this language; 94% of it’s speakers are found in Guatamala. (Lewis, 2009) The language Lenca is even less commonly spoken than Kekchi, as it is nearly exstinct due to the speakers shifting to Spanish. There are also very few speakers left of the Pipil language, it is mostly spoken by those of older generations, and has taken a serious decline with the newest members of the population, becoming almost extinct. Despite this decline though, the language has been taught in schools in the recent past, possibly with the hope of it’s revival. (Lewis, 2009) The use of Sign Language, Salvadoran Sign Language, is another form of communication in El Salvador. This language is used by the deaf community and is different than both French and Spanish sign languages. (Lewis, 2009)

References:

Campbell, L. (1974). Theoretical Implications of Kekchi Phonology. In. (Ed.), (pp. 269). (Reprinted from International Journal of American Linguistics, Vol. 40, (1974). Albany, NY: The University of Chicago Press).

Lewis, M. Paul (ed.), 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com/.

Pictures:

http://edubuzz.org/blogs/plhs-modlang/files/2008/05/spanish_lang_map.jpg