Tuesday 3 February 2009

Languages of countries......

Afghanistan: Dari Persian, Pashtu (both official), other Turkic and minor languages
Albania: Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek
Algeria: Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Andorra: Catalán (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese
Angola: Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
Antigua and Barbuda: English (official), local dialects
Argentina: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Armenia: Armenian, Yezidi, Russian
Australia: English, native and other languages
Austria: German (official nationwide), Slovene, Croatian, Hungarian (each official in one region)
Azerbaijan: Azerbaijani, Russian, Armenian
Bahamas: English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Bahrain: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Bangladesh: Bangla (official), English
Barbados: English
Belarus: Belorussi, Russian
Belgium: Dutch (Flemish), French, German (all official)
Belize: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Benin: French (official), Fon, Yoruba, tribal languages
Bhutan: Dzongkha (official), Tibetan dialects (among Bhotes), Nepalese dialects (among Nepalese)
Bolivia: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara (all official)
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Botswana: English (official), Setswana, Kalanga, Sekgalagadi
Brazil: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Brunei: Malay (official), English, Chinese
Bulgaria: Bulgarian, Turkish, Roma
Burkina Faso: French (official), native African (Sudanic)
Burundi: Kirundi and French (official), Swahili
Cambodia: Khmer(official) , French, English
Cameroon: French, English (both official); 24 major African language groups
Canada: English, French (both official)
Cape Verde: Portuguese, Criuolo
Central African Republic: French (official), Sangho (lingua franca, national), tribal languages
Chad: French, Arabic (both official), Sara, more than 120 languages and dialects
Chile: Spanish
China: Standard Chinese (Mandarin/Putonghua ), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese) , Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese) , Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages
Colombia: Spanish
Comoros: Arabic and French (both official), Shikomoro (Swahili/Arabic blend)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the: French (official), Lingala, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba
Congo, Republic of: French (official), Lingala, Monokutuba, Kikongo, many local languages and dialects
Costa Rica: Spanish (official), English
Côte d'Ivoire: French (official) and African languages
Croatia: Croatian (official), others (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, German)
Cuba: Spanish
Cyprus: Greek, Turkish (both official), English
Czech Republic: Czech
Denmark: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (Inuit dialect), German, English is predominant second language
Djibouti: French and Arabic (both official), Somali, Afar
Dominica: English (official) and French patois
Dominican Republic: Spanish
East Timor: Tetum, Portuguese (official), Bahasa Indonesia, English, other indigenous languages, including Tetum, Galole, Mambae and Kemak
Ecuador: Spanish (official), Quechua other Amerindian languages
Egypt: Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
El Salvador: Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Equatorial Guinea: Spanish, French (both official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Eritrea: Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages
Estonia: Estonian (official), Russian
Ethiopia: Amharic, Tigrigna, Orominga, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic, English, over 70 others
Fiji: English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Finland: Finnish, Swedish(both official), small Sami- (Lapp) and Russian-speaking minorities
France: French, rapidly declining regional dialects (Provençal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Gabon: French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Gambia: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous
Georgia: Georgian (official), Russian, Armenian, Azerbaijani, other (Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia)
Germany: German
Ghana: English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Greece:Greek (official), English, French
Grenada:English (official), French patois
Guatemala: Spanish, Amerindian languages (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)
Guinea: French (official), native tongues (Malinké, Susu, Fulani)
Guinea-Bissau: Portuguese (official), Criolo, African languages
Guyana: English (official), Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu
Haiti: Creole and French (both official)
Honduras: Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects, English widely spoken in business
Hungary: Magyar (Hungarian)
Iceland: Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
India: Hindi, English, Bengali, Gujarati, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Kannada, Assamese, Sanskrit, Sindhi (all official); Hindi/Urdu, 1,600+ dialects
Indonesia: Bahasa Indonesia (official), English, Dutch, Javanese, and more than 580 other languages and dialects
Iran: Persian and Persian dialects, Turkic and Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Luri, Balochi, Arabic, Turkish
Iraq: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian
Ireland: English, Irish (Gaelic) (both official)
Israel: Hebrew (official), Arabic, English
Italy: Italian (official), German, French, and Slovene-speaking minorities
Jamaica: English, Jamaican Creole
Japan: Japanese
Jordan: Arabic (official), English
Kazakhstan: Kazak (Qazaq, state language), Russian (official, used in everyday business)
Kenya: English (official), Swahili (national) and numerous indigenous languages
Kiribati: English (official), I-Kiribati (Gilbertese)
Korea, North: Korean
Korea, South: Korean, English widely taught
Kuwait: Arabic (official), English
Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz, Russian (both official)
Laos: Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages
Latvia: Latvian (official), Russian, Lithuanian
Lebanon: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Lesotho: English, Sesotho (both official), Zulu,
Liberia: English (official), some 20 ethnic-group languages
Libya: Arabic, Italian, and English widely understood in major cities
Liechtenstein: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Lithuania: Lithuanian (official), Russian , Polish
Luxembourg: Luxermbourgish (national) French, German (both administrative)
Macedoni: Macedonian, Albanian(both official), Turkish, Roma, Serbian
Madagascar: Malagasy and French (both official)
Malawi: Chichewa (official), Chinyanja, Chiyao%, Chitumbuka, Chisena, Chilomwe, Chitonga
Malaysia: Bahasa Melayu (Malay, official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai; several indigenous languages (including Iban, Kadazan) in East Malaysia
Maldives: Maldivian Dhivehi (official); English spoken by most government officials
Mali: French (official), Bambara, numerous African languages
Malta: Maltese and English (both official)
Marshall Islands: Marshallese (two major dialects from the Malayo-Polynesian family), English widely spoken as a second language (both official), Japanese
Mauritania: Hassaniya Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Wolof
Mauritius: English less than (official), Creole, Bojpoori, French
Mexico: Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl and other regional indigenous languages
Micronesia: English (official, common), Chukese, Pohnpeian, Yapase, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Moldova: Moldovan (official, virtually the same as Romanian), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Monaco: French (official), English, Italian, Monégasque
Mongolia: Mongolian, Turkic and Russian
Montenegro: Serbian/Montenegrin (Ijekavian dialect—official)
Morocco: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often used for business, government and diplomacy
Mozambique: Portuguese (official), Emakhuwa, Xichangana, Elomwe, Cisena, Echuwabo, other Mozambican languages
Myanmar: Burmese, minority languages
Namibia: English (official), Afrikaans, German, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama
Nauru: Nauruan (official), English
Nepal: Nepali (official), Maithali, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Tamang, English spoken by many in government and business
Netherlands: Dutch, Frisian (both official)
New Zealand: English, Maori (both official)
Nicaragua: Spanish(official) , English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Niger: French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Nigeria: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani, and more than 200 others
Norway: Bokmål Norwegian, Nynorsk Norwegian (both official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities (Sami is official in six municipalities)
Oman: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Pakistan: Urdu, English (both official), Punjabi, Sindhi, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant), Pashtu, Balochi, Hindko, Brahui, Burushaski
Palau: Palauan, English, Sonsoralese, Tobi, Angaur (each official on some islands), Filipino, Chinese, Carolinian, Japanese
Panama: Spanish (official), English
Papua New Guinea: Tok Pisin (Melanesian Pidgin, the lingua franca), Hiri Motu (in Papua region), English, 715 indigenous languages
Paraguay: Spanish, Guaraní (both official)
Peru: Spanish, Quéchua (both official), Aymara, many minor Amazonian languages
Philippines: Filipino (based on Tagalog), English (both official), eight major dialects: Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango and Pangasinense
Poland: Polish
Portugal: Portuguese, Mirandese (both official)
Qatar: Arabic (official), English a common second language
Romania: Romanian (official), Hungarian, German
Russia: Russian
Rwanda: Kinyarwanda, French, and English (all official), Kiswahili in commercial centers
St. Kitts and Nevis: English
St. Lucia: English (official), French patois
St. Vincent and the Grenadines: English, French patois
Samoa: Samoan, English
San Marino: Italian
São Tomé and Príncipe: Portuguese (official)
Saudi Arabia: Arabic
Senegal: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Serbia: Serbian (official), Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak, and Croatian (all official in Vojvodina), Albanian (official in Kosovo)
Seychelles: Seselwa Creole, English, French (all official)
Sierra Leone: English (official), Mende (southern vernacular), Temne (northern vernacular), Krio (lingua franca)
Singapore: Mandarin, English, Malay, Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Tamil, other Chinese dialects
Slovakia: Slovak (official), Hungarian, Roma, Ukrainian
Slovenia: Slovenian, Serbo-Croatian
Solomon Islands: English (official), Melanesian pidgin (lingua franca), 120 indigenous languages
Somalia: Somali (official), Arabic, English, Italian
South Africa: IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi, English, Setswana, Sesotho, Xitsonga
Spain: Castilian Spanish (official nationwide), Catalan, Galician, Basque (each official regionally)
Sri Lanka: Sinhala (official and national), Tamil (national), English is commonly used in government
Sudan: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
Suriname: Dutch (official), Surinamese (lingua franca), English widely spoken, Hindustani, Javanese
Swaziland: English, siSwati (both official)
Sweden: Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Switzerland: German, French, Italian (all official), Romansch (national)
Syria: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood, French, English
Taiwan: Chinese (Mandarin, official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
Tajikistan: Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business
Tanzania: Swahili, English (both official), Arabic, many local languages
Thailand: Thai (Siamese), English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
Togo: French (official, commerce), Ewé, Mina (south), Kabyé, Dagomba (north) and many dialects
Tonga: Tongan (an Austronesian language), English
Trinidad and Tobago: English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese
Tunisia: Arabic (official, commerce), French (commerce)
Turkey: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Dimli, Azeri, Kabardian
Turkmenistan: Turkmen, Russian, Uzbek
Tuvalu: Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Uganda: English (official), Ganda or Luganda, other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic
Ukraine: Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian
United Arab Emirates: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
United Kingdom: English, Welsh, Scots Gaelic
United States: English, Spanish
Uruguay: Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero
Uzbekistan: Uzbek , Russian , Tajik
Vanuatu: Bislama (a Melanesian pidgin English), English, French (all 3 official), more than 100 local languages
Vatican City (Holy See): Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
Venezuela: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Vietnam: Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, Khmer, mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Yemen: Arabic
Zambia: English (official), major vernaculars: Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, about 70 other indigenous languages
Zimbabwe: English (official), Shona, Ndebele (Sindebele), numerous minor tribal dialects

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on such an exhaustive and undoubtedly unique list!

As the "International Year of Languages" comes to an end on 21st February, you may be interested in the contribution, made by the World Esperanto Association, to UNESCO's campaign for the protection of endangered languages.

The following declaration was made in favour of Esperanto, by UNESCO at its Paris HQ in December 2008. http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=38420&URL_DO=DO_PRINTPAGE&URL_SECTION=201.html

The commitment to the campaign to save endangered languages was made, by the World Esperanto Association at the United Nations' Geneva HQ in September.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=eR7vD9kChBA&feature=related or http://www.lernu.net