The current state language of Colombia came to these lands in the 16th century along with the Spanish conquistadors. Immigrants from Europe mixed with the local population and dialects of Indians and Negro slaves brought from Africa penetrated into classical Spanish. Colombian Spanish today is not the only language in the country. It does not have a pronounced dominant norm, as in neighboring Latin American countries. In Colombia, there are at least 10 major dialects and many local dialects.
Some statistics and facts
- Only 90% of Colombia's population can read and write in their own language. The rest of its inhabitants are illiterate.
- Typically American features of Colombian Spanish distinguish it significantly from the language of the Iberian Peninsula. The difference is noticeable in phonetics, vocabulary and grammar.
- Crossing the country, the Andes mountain ranges significantly complicate communication between rural areas. This allows regional phonetics and vocabulary to be kept intact for centuries.
- The Colombian diaspora abroad is about a million people. Its members prefer to communicate in the state language of Colombia and far beyond its borders.
Spanish: history and modernity
The first colonies on the Caribbean coast of Colombia were founded by the Spaniards at the beginning of the 16th century. They christened the open lands New Granada and resettled a significant portion of the Indian population on the reservation. In these communities, the languages of the local tribes were preserved for a long time, but gradually they were supplanted by the Spanish brought by the colonialists.
Palenquero in Colombia
A Spanish-based Creole language, Palenquero was born from a confusion of dialects from slaves brought to South America. In Colombia, runaway slaves settled in the small village of Palenque de San Basilio, 50 km from Cartagena de Indias. Palenquero contains many words borrowed from the Bantu languages used in Congo, Nigeria and other African countries.
Tourist notes
English in Colombia is present only in major cities and tourist destinations. In the provinces, few people own it, and therefore it is extremely difficult to find a menu in English or a speaker.
To organize travel in Colombia, it is better to use the services of professional agencies, since the country is unstable in terms of any security. A licensed guide-translator will help to avoid many problems for a person who does not speak the state language of Colombia.
