Languages of Nicaragua
See language map.[See also SIL publications on the languages of Nicaragua.]
Republic of Nicaragua, República de Nicaragua. 5,463,000. National or official language: Spanish. Literacy rate: 66%–74%. Also includes Arabic (400), Chinese (7,000). Blind population: 1,800 (1982 WCE). Deaf population: 248,401. The number of individual languages listed for Nicaragua is 10. Of those, 7 are living languages and 3 have no known speakers.
| Garifuna | [cab] A few in Nicaragua (2001 E. Velásquez). Ethnic population: 1,500 in Nicaragua (1982 Meso-America). Región Atlántica Autónoma del Sur, Orinoco village, far from speakers in other countries. Alternate names: Black Carib, Caribe, Central American Carib, “Moreno”. Classification: Arawakan, Maipuran, Northern Maipuran, Caribbean |
| Matagalpa | [mtn] No known speakers. Ethnic population: 18,000 to 20,000 (1981 MARC). Ethnic group in Central highlands, Matagalpa and Jinotega departments, and in Honduras, El Paraíso Department. Alternate names: Pantasmas. Classification: Misumalpan |
| Mískito | [miq] 154,000 in Nicaragua (1993 census). Population total all countries: 183,000. Ethnic population: 154,400 (1993). Zalaya Department, North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN), from Pearl Lagoon to Black River, coast and lowlands; a concentration in Puerto Cabeza City; Prinzapolka, Tronquera, San Carlos (Río Coco), Waspam, Leimus, Bocana de Paiwas, Karawala, Sangnilaya, Wasla, Sisin, Rosita, Bonanza, Siuna, Bihmuna, and all along the Río Coco area. Also in South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS). Also in Honduras. Alternate names: Marquito, Mískitu, Mísquito, Mosquito. Dialects: Honduran Mískito (Mam), Tawira (Tauira), Baymuna (Baymunana, Baldam), Wanki (Wangki), Cabo (Kabo). Most similar to Sumo-Mayangna [sum]. Wanki dialect is spoken around Puerto Cabeza; other dialects are in settlements to the southwest. Classification: Misumalpan |
| Monimbo | [mom] No known speakers. Ethnic population: 10,000 (1981 MARC). Classification: Unclassified |
| Nicaragua Creole English | [bzk] 30,000 (1986 Carrier Pidgin). 625 Rama Cay Creole speakers (Holm 1989). Bluefields region, Rama Cay Island, Pearl Lagoon, Prinzapolka, Puerto Cabezas, Corn Islands. Alternate names: Mískito Coast Creole English. Dialects: Rama Cay Creole English, Bluefields Creole English. Classification: Creole, English based, Atlantic, Western |
| Nicaraguan Sign Language | [ncs] 3,000 (1997 Asociación Nacional de Sordos de Nicaragua). Widespread, especially Managua. Alternate names: Idioma de Señas de Nicaragua. Dialects: 2 sign languages in Nicaragua. Unrelated to El Salvadoran [esn], Costa Rican [csr], or other sign languages. Classification: Deaf sign language |
| Rama | [rma] 24 (1989 J. Holm). Ethnic population: 900 (2000 C. Grinevald). Rama Cay, 30-mile radius. Classification: Chibchan, Rama Nearly extinct. |
| Spanish | [spa] 4,350,000 in Nicaragua (1995). Alternate names: Castellano, Español. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian |
| Subtiaba | [sut] No known speakers. Ethnic population: 5,000 (1981 MARC). Plains of León, Pacific slope. Classification: Oto-Manguean, Subtiaba-Tlapanecan |
| Sumo-Mayangna | [sum] 6,700 in Nicaragua (1982 Mesoamerica). Population total all countries: 7,400. Upriver locations from Prinzapolka River in the south into Honduras in the north. Also in Honduras. Alternate names: Soumo, Sumo, Sumo Tawahka, Sumoo, Sumu, Taguaca, Woolwa. Dialects: Panamahka, Nicaraguan Tawahka, Ulwa, Bawihka, Kukra. A distinct dialect is spoken in Honduras. Classification: Misumalpan |
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