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The LesserAntilleanCreoleFrenchLanguage is a FrenchBasedCreoleLanguage of StLucia. SIL code: DOM. ISO 639-2: cpf. Population: 123,000 in St. Lucia (1995), 75% of the population (1997 M. Parkvall). Population: total all countries 985,450. Region: Also spoken in Dominica, France, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago. Dialects: ST. LUCIA CREOLE FRENCH (PATWA, PATOIS, KWEYOL). Comments: Guadeloupe dialect is similar to Haiti, close to Martinique, St. Lucia is close to Dominica (97% to 99% intelligibility). Goodman (1964) says all French creoles of the Caribbean are somewhat inherently intelligible to each other's speakers. Other sources also include those of the Indian Ocean and probably Southeast Asia and Oceania (Voegelin and Voegelin 1977). Standard French is understood by no more than 10% of the population in St. Lucia. Standard French is used in some church services. English is also used. Politicians give speeches in Creole. In the islands under French influence nearly all the population speaks creole as mother tongue, although there is a local variety of Standard French. In those under English influence, the creole has less standing, and its speakers are normally illiterate in the creole. Dictionary. Grammar. Literacy rate in second language: 36%. Has an orthography. Newspapers, radio programs. Christian. NT 1999. Also spoken in: Dominica. (Language name: LESSER ANTILLEAN CREOLE FRENCH.) Population: 42,600 in Dominica (1998), 60% of the population (M. Parkvall). Dialects: DOMINICA CREOLE FRENCH (PATWA, PATOIS, KWEYOL). Comments: The dialect of Dominica is virtually the same as St. Lucia. Most people are bilingual in English or English dominant, especially younger people. Standard French understood by no more than 10% of the population (M. Adler 1977). Loan words from Island Carib and Arawak. Dictionary. Christian. NT 1999. Also spoken in: Grenada. (Language name: LESSER ANTILLEAN CREOLE FRENCH.) Dialects: GRENADA CREOLE FRENCH (PATWA, PATOIS). Comments: Mainly older people on Grenada Island. The same as, or similar to, that spoken in St. Lucia (M. Alleyne). NT 1999. Also spoken in: Guadeloupe. (Language name: LESSER ANTILLEAN CREOLE FRENCH.) Population: 335,000 in Guadeloupe (1975). Dialects: GUADELOUPE CREOLE FRENCH (PATWA, PATOIS, KREYOL), ST. MARTIN CREOLE FRENCH, MARIE GALANTE CREOLE FRENCH, ST. BARTH CREOLE FRENCH. Comments: Very close to Martinique Creole. St. Barth Creole is distinct in grammatical, phonological, and lexical feaatures, and may not be a dialect (J. Maher 1989). Investigation needed: intelligibility with St. Barth Creole, St. Martin Creole, Marie Galante Creole. Dictionary. Grammar. NT 1999. Also spoken in: Martinique. (Language name: LESSER ANTILLEAN CREOLE FRENCH.) Population: 325,000 in Martinique (1975). Dialects: MARTINIQUE CREOLE FRENCH (PATWA, PATOIS). Comments: Dialect of Guadeloupe is close to Martinique. Comprehension of St. Lucia Creole is 89%. NT 1999. Also spoken in: Trinidad and Tobago. (Language name: LESSER ANTILLEAN CREOLE FRENCH.) Dialects: TRINIDADIAN CREOLE FRENCH (PATOIS, TRINIDADIEN). Comments: Speakers have contact with French creoles from St. Lucia and elsewhere, which contributes to language maintenance. M. Alleyne and J. Holm say it is close to Lesser Antillean Creole French. Not intelligible with Standard French. In settlements around Dragon Mouths children under ten speak the language, elsewhere speakers are middle-aged and older (I. Hancock 1984). Fishermen. NT 1999.(extract from http://www.ethnologue.com/)
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