This article relies largely or entirely on a
single source. (May 2009) |
Languages of Falkland Islands | |
---|---|
Official | English |
Minority | Spanish, Portuguese |
Signed | British Sign Language |
Keyboard layout |
The only official language of the Falkland Islands is English, and this is spoken by everyone on a day-to-day basis. Spanish is spoken by 10% of the population, [1] a significant minority. Most of the Spanish speakers are immigrants, foreign workers, and expats, predominantly from Chile. Knowledge of Spanish as a foreign language is fairly widespread, as it is a compulsory subject in school, being the lingua franca in much of mainland South America. As the schools follow the English education system, European Spanish, as prescribed by the Real Academia in Madrid, is taught, rather than a South American variety of the language, but Falkland Islanders may use seseo pronunciation typical of South American dialect. Although, the Spanish speakers would like to turn to United States Spanish, as prescribed by the North American Academy of the Spanish Language, if they ever wish to.
Falkland Islands English is mainly British in character. However, as a result of the isolation of the islands, the small population has developed and retains its own accent/dialect, which persists despite a large number of immigrants from the United Kingdom in recent years. In rural areas (i.e. anywhere outside Port Stanley), known as ‘ Camp’ (from Spanish campo or ‘countryside’), [2] the Falkland accent tends to be stronger. The dialect has resemblances to Australian, New Zealand, West Country and Norfolk dialects of English, as well as Lowland Scots and High Tider.
Several languages have been used historically in the Falkland Islands.
This article relies largely or entirely on a
single source. (May 2009) |
Languages of Falkland Islands | |
---|---|
Official | English |
Minority | Spanish, Portuguese |
Signed | British Sign Language |
Keyboard layout |
The only official language of the Falkland Islands is English, and this is spoken by everyone on a day-to-day basis. Spanish is spoken by 10% of the population, [1] a significant minority. Most of the Spanish speakers are immigrants, foreign workers, and expats, predominantly from Chile. Knowledge of Spanish as a foreign language is fairly widespread, as it is a compulsory subject in school, being the lingua franca in much of mainland South America. As the schools follow the English education system, European Spanish, as prescribed by the Real Academia in Madrid, is taught, rather than a South American variety of the language, but Falkland Islanders may use seseo pronunciation typical of South American dialect. Although, the Spanish speakers would like to turn to United States Spanish, as prescribed by the North American Academy of the Spanish Language, if they ever wish to.
Falkland Islands English is mainly British in character. However, as a result of the isolation of the islands, the small population has developed and retains its own accent/dialect, which persists despite a large number of immigrants from the United Kingdom in recent years. In rural areas (i.e. anywhere outside Port Stanley), known as ‘ Camp’ (from Spanish campo or ‘countryside’), [2] the Falkland accent tends to be stronger. The dialect has resemblances to Australian, New Zealand, West Country and Norfolk dialects of English, as well as Lowland Scots and High Tider.
Several languages have been used historically in the Falkland Islands.