Saramaccan

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A language of Suriname

ISO 639-3
srm
Population

23,000 in Suriname (1995 SIL). 1,000 Matawari. Population total all countries: 26,000.

Location

Central, along Saramacca and upper Suriname rivers; Paramaribo. Also in French Guiana.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Creole, English based
Dialects

Matawari (Matawai, Matoewari, Matuari). Possibly Portuguese [por] based rather than English [eng] (Hancock 1988). Linguistic influences from Koongo [kng] (Hancock 1988). Lexical similarity: 20% with African component.

Typology

Tonal, one tone per vowel

Language Use

All domains. All ages.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Saramaccan is being used for religious instruction in Moravian schools along the Suriname River. Poetry. Dictionary. NT: 1991–2009.
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

A Bush Negro ethnic group with background similar to the Ndyuka. Traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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