Panama Languages at Risk
Panama - Panamian
culture is facing the danger of nine native
languages disappearing, because only a few
people use them to communicate.
According to experts, the Panamanian Creole
language, used in Bocas del Toro, Colon and
Panama, is on the verge of extinction, while
five others are under the threat of
disappearing.
Woun Menu, spoken by the Waunaan, Teribe,
Bri-Bri, Bugle and Creole English, which is
spoken in Colon Island, Bocas del Toro
province, are among those languages.
They also include Embera, Kuna and Ngabere,
although they are less vulnerable, being
spoken by a larger number of people.
Statistics revealed 19 languages among those
reported in danger of extinction in the
country, where Spanish is considered
official.
An initiative to preserve that cultural
heritage is an inter-cultural bilingual
educational program that is being applied by
the Education Ministry.
A UNESCO study published this year says
there are 1,498 languages in danger of
extinction in the world. |
