Language and Communication in Belize By: Adrienne Roberson

Population 327,719 (July 2011 est.) Language Belize. 276,000. American Indians 11% (1991 census). National or official language: English. Literacy rate: 70%. Average years of schooling 7.53. Immigrant languages: Hindi (8,460), Japanese (200), Korean (200), North Levantine Spoken Arabic (190). Also includes Chinese. Information mainly from SIL 1973–2003. Blind population: 728 registered. Deaf population: 12,671. Deaf institutions: 1. The number of individual languages listed for Belize is 8. Of those, all are living languages.

Languages English is the official language and the language of instruction in schools-. Spanish is also widely spoken. It is taught in primary and secondary schools in order to further develop bi-lingualism. Fifty point six: percent of the population speaks English; 31.6 % speaks Spanish. In certain areas of the country, such as the Corozal and Grange Walk Districts in the north and the Cayo District in the west, Spanish is spoken as a mother tongue by the majority of the people.

In the southern districts of Stann Creek and Toledo, there are people whose first language is Garifuna or Maya. Nearly everyone speaks an English dialect (or Creole patois), the vernacular of the country. Belize Radio One broadcasts about 80% of its programs in English and the remainder in Spanish. It has now introduced programs in Garifuna and Maya.

Creole http://www.language-museum.com/encyclopedia/b/belize-creole-english.php

Garífuna http://www.language-museum.com/encyclopedia/g/garifuna.php

Maya http://www.language-museum.com/encyclopedia/m/maya.php

Sign Language Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CShJRtV7n9k

In conversation with Rosita about her sister attending the Deaf school I received her opinion about it. She told me that she misses having her sister at home but she know sending her to the Deaf school is the best option. She told me that she loves it at the Deaf school and learns so much. She said she is a very smart girl. Rosita also told me she has learned enough sign to be able to communicate with her sister when she is home for the summer. She lives there the whole school year.

http://www.cdi-belize.net/students/2012-2013-school-year/?show=slide

Bibliography Map of Belize http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/central-america/belize/ Accessed on November 26, 2012   Language info. http://ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/factsbze.html CDI Website http://www.cdi-belize.net/students/2012-2013-school-year/?show=slide Creole language http://www.language-museum.com/encyclopedia/b/belize-creole-english.php Accessed on November 27, 2012

Bibliography Continued Garífuna http://www.language-museum.com/encyclopedia/g/garifuna.php Accessed November 28, 2012 Maya http://www.language-museum.com/encyclopedia/m/maya.php Sign Language Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CShJRtV7n9k Population http://www.indexmundi.com/belize/demographics_profile.html Language information http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=bz Personal Stories Adrienne Roberson Belizean opinion Rosita Romero

Bibliography Continued Personal Stories Adrienne Roberson Belizean opinion Rosita Romero