Puerto Rico, located on the islands of the Caribbean Sea, has a very difficult administrative and state status. A freely associated state or Commonwealth depends on the United States, is under their control, but at the same time is not an integral part. The connection between the two countries is in a common currency, citizenship of the population, defense and official languages. In Puerto Rico, one of them is English, like in the United States, and the other is Spanish.
Some statistics and facts
- Of all the countries in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is perhaps the most cosmopolitan. It is home to the descendants of the French, Lebanese and Chinese who emigrated in the 1800s, and the Argentines, Cubans, Colombians and Dominicans who arrived later. Together with people from Africa and Spain, the national palette of the island looks more than colorful.
- Spanish is basic in government institutions, and English is compulsory starting in the second grade of primary school.
- Spanish is recognized as the main language by 3.8 million Puerto Ricans. English is considered native only by 80 thousand inhabitants of the country.
Languages and territorial status
The lack of a clear legislative framework on the status of the country's territory leads to an unstable situation with the state languages of Puerto Rico. In 1991, the then governor signed into law Spanish as the only state language. Supporters of Puerto Rico joining the United States as a separate state saw this as a threat to their plans and achieved another administrative order. The next governor overturned the decision of the predecessor, and in 1993, English again received state status.
Spanish in Puerto Rico
Among the country's population, there are almost no descendants of the Indians who lived on the islands in the pre-Columbian era. They were exterminated like the native population of other American territories in the 15th and 16th centuries, when the Europeans began their colonial campaign.
The great navigator landed on the island in 1493, and it was then that his population first became acquainted with the future state language of Puerto Rico.
Tourist notes
For the most part, Puerto Ricans are fluent in English, and therefore tourists usually do not have problems with understanding. Most of the information required is duplicated in both official languages, including signage, restaurant menus, road signs and public transport diagrams.
