Chamorro

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A language of Guam

ISO 639-3

cha

Alternate Names

Tjamoro

Autonym

Chamorru

Population

30,300 in Guam (2015). Total users in all countries: 64,300.

Language Maps

Guam and Northern Mariana Islands

Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1974, Guam Code Annotated, Chapter 7, Section 706, amended).

Classification

Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Chamorro

Dialects

Chamorro, Rotanese Chamorro.

Typology

SVO, VSO.

Language Use

Gaining in importance. Taught at the University of Guam.

Language Development

Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2007.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Chamorro

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Influence from Spanish [spa]. Christian.

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Northern Mariana Islands

Language nameChamorro

Population Full

14,200 in Northern Mariana Islands (2005 UNSD). Very few monolinguals.

Location

Widespread.

Alternate Names

Chamorru, Tjamoro

Status

3 (Wider communication). Statutory language of national identity (1978, Constitution, Article 22(3)), dominant indigenous language; co-official with English [eng] and Carolinian [cal].

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Carolinian [cal], Tanapag [tpv].

Language Development

Active language use development (2011). Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Christian.

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United States

Language nameChamorro

Population Full

19,800 in United States (2015 census).

Location

Scattered.

Alternate Names

Chamorru

Status

6b* (Threatened).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Ethnologue

Chamorro

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A language of Guam

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