Honduras

Summary

Official Name
Population: 9,546,000
Principal Languages: Spanish
Literacy Rate: 87% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), (), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Campbell 1997, Campbell and Oltrogge 1980, Oltrogge 1977, Rivas 1993
Deaf Population: 18,000–70,000
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Honduras is 10. All are living languages. Of these, 8 are indigenous and 2 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 1 is institutional, 4 are developing, 2 are in trouble, and 3 are dying. Also listed are 2 unestablished languages.

Languages

Arabic, South Levantine Spoken ajp: Users: 32,000 in Honduras (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Armenian, Western hyw: Users: 1,300 in Honduras (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
Ch’orti’ caa: Copán department: along Guatemala border. Users: No known L1 speakers in Honduras. Ethnic population: 33,300 (2013 census). Status: 9 (Dormant). Classification: Mayan, Yucatecan-Core Mayan, Core Mayan, Cholan-Tzeltalan, Cholan, Chorti-Cholti
Chinese, Yue yue: Tegucigalpa. Users: 1,000 in Honduras (1999). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
English eng: Islas de la Bahía department: large cities along north mainland coast. Users: 9,000 in Honduras (2015 J. Leclerc). Also 13,000 speakers of Bay Island Creole English (2015 J. Leclerc). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Inglés Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Garifuna cab: Atlántida and Colón departments; Cortes department: north coast between Masca and Plaplaya in Gracias a Dios department; Islas de la Bahía (Roatan island) department; cities: La Ceiba, Puerto Cortés, San Pedro Sula, and Tegucigalpa; 37 villages. Users: 43,100 in Honduras (2013 census), based on ethnicity. 100 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 100,000 (2021 J. Leclerc). Total users in all countries: 119,400. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Black Carib, Caribe, Central American Carib, Garínagu, Karif Autonym: Garífuna Classification: Maipurean, Northern, Maritime, Ta-Maipurean, Iñeri
Honduran Sign Language hds: Scattered. Users: 40,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 30,000–60,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of the total population. Other estimates: 34,800 (2008 WFD), 18,000–70,000 (Williams 2010:5). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2013, Decreto no. 321-2013), Recognizes LESHO as a means of communication for deaf and the general population, provides for use in deaf education, training of interpreters and provision of interpreters for official government communications. Alternate Names: Honduras Sign Language, LESHO, Lengua de Señas Hondureñas, Lengua de señas Hondureña Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Lenca len: Comayagua, Francisco Morazán, Intibucá, La Paz, Lempira, and Valle departments. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last fluent speaker probably died by the 1970s (Campbell et al 1978). Some semi-speakers (Adelaar 2007). Ethnic population: 454,000 (2013 census). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Honduran Lenca, Lenka Classification: Lencan
Mayangna yan: Colón department: southeast corner; Gracias a Dios and Olancho departments: between Patuca and Wanki rivers. Users: 700 in Honduras (1997 SIL). Ethnic population: 2,690 (2013 census). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Sumu, Tawahka Classification: Misumalpan
Mískito miq: Colón department; Gracias a Dios and Olancho departments, south, Coco river watershed; coastal area, and northwest from Puerto Lempira. Users: 29,000 in Honduras (Rivas 1993). Ethnic population: 80,000 (2013 census). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Marquito, Mosquito, Mískitu, Mísquito Classification: Misumalpan
Pech pay: Colón department: near Caribbean coast; Olancho department: Dulce Nombre de Culmi and Catamacas municipalities. Users: 300 (Yasugi 2007). Ethnic population: 6,020 (2013 census). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Paya, Pesh, Seco Classification: Chibchan, Chibchan B
Spanish spa: Users: 9,453,000 in Honduras, all users. L1 users: 9,330,000 in Honduras (Instituto Cervantes 2021). L2 users: 123,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2021). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1982, Constitution, Article 6). Alternate Names: Castellano, Español Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Tol jic: Francisco Morazán department: Montaña de la Flor and Yoro. Users: 300 (Yasugi 2007). Ethnic population: 19,000 (2013 census). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Tolpan, Tolupan, Torrupan, “Jicaque” (pej.), “Xicaque” (pej.) Autonym: Tol Classification: Jicaquean

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Spanish

[spa] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1982, Constitution, Article 6). 9,453,000 in Honduras, all users. L1 users: 9,330,000 in Honduras (Instituto Cervantes 2021). L2 users: 123,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2021).

5 (Dispersed)

English

[eng] 5* (Dispersed). 9,000 in Honduras (2015 J. Leclerc). Also 13,000 speakers of Bay Island Creole English (2015 J. Leclerc).

5 (Developing)

Honduran Sign Language

[hds] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2013, Decreto no. 321-2013), Recognizes LESHO as a means of communication for deaf and the general population, provides for use in deaf education, training of interpreters and provision of interpreters for official government communications. 40,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 30,000–60,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of the total population. Other estimates: 34,800 (2008 WFD), 18,000–70,000 (Williams 2010:5).

Mayangna

[yan] 5 (Developing). 700 in Honduras (1997 SIL). Ethnic population: 2,690 (2013 census).

Mískito

[miq] 5 (Developing). 29,000 in Honduras (Rivas 1993). Ethnic population: 80,000 (2013 census).

6b (Threatened)

Garifuna

[cab] 6b (Threatened). 43,100 in Honduras (2013 census), based on ethnicity. 100 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 100,000 (2021 J. Leclerc). Total users in all countries: 119,400.

7 (Shifting)

Tol

[jic] 7 (Shifting). 300 (Yasugi 2007). Ethnic population: 19,000 (2013 census).

8a (Moribund)

Pech

[pay] 8a (Moribund). 300 (Yasugi 2007). Ethnic population: 6,020 (2013 census).

9 (Dormant)

Ch’orti’

[caa] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers in Honduras. Ethnic population: 33,300 (2013 census).

Lenca

[len] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers. Last fluent speaker probably died by the 1970s (Campbell et al 1978). Some semi-speakers (Adelaar 2007). Ethnic population: 454,000 (2013 census).

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Honduras with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Honduras is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Honduras with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Honduras is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Honduras in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Honduras

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Contributions

Editorial Action