Falkland Islands Languages

Falkland Islands Wiki Topics
Flag of the Falkland Islands.svg.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Falkland Islands Background
Local Research Resources

Description

English is the only official language of the Falkland Islands. This is spoken by everyone on a day-to-day basis. Spanish is spoken by only 10% of the population. The majority of the Spanish speakers are immigrants, foreign workers, and expats, predominantly from Chile. [1]

Mainly British in character, Falkland Islands English has developed and retains its own accent/dialect as a result of the isolation of the islands. This persists despite many immigrants from the United Kingdom in recent years. [2]

Several languages have been used historically in the Falkland Islands: [3]

  • French - The French were the first to colonize the islands, and their settlement at Port Louis would have used French.
  • Yaghan - This is now an extinct language and has left no trace on the Falklands, and would not have been written at this time.
  • Scottish Gaelic - Many early settlers were from the Gaelic-speaking parts of Scotland, including the Western Isles and the western Highlands.

Word List(s)

Falkland Islands English

Scottish Gaelic

Helpful Genealogical Word Lists:

Alphabet and Pronunciation

Falkland Islands English

Scottish Gaelic

Language Aids and Dictionaries

Scottish Gaelic

Additional Resources

References

  1. Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of the Falkland Islands," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_Falkland_Islands, accessed 17 May 2023.
  2. Wikipedia contributors, "Falkland Islands English," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falkland_Islands_English, accessed 17 May 2023.
  3. Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of the Falkland Islands," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_Falkland_Islands#Historic, accessed 17 May 2023.