Our language's name is derived from the Portuguese verb 'papear' which means 'to jabber' or the verb in Spanish meaning to speak incoherently. The word 'papiamento' also has the same meaning as parliament which is derived from the French word 'parler' to speak. Papiamento began in the s to enable African slaves to communicate with their owners who had fled the Spanish Inquisition. In addition to their own language words, Portuguese and Spanish missionaries, Dutch merchants, South American traders and Indians added additional vocabulary.
Today's instant international communications have added such elements as business English, computer jargon, food-related words and the colorful slang of many countries. Linguistic scholars state that Arubans have an aptitude or an almost instinctive flair for languages.
Four or even five languages as part of one conversation within a group is common, depending on who is being spoken to or who is doing the speaking. Dutch is the official language of Aruba, alongside Papiamento. The Dutch first settled into the island in the 17th century, bringing their language and culture with them. The use and popularity of the language on the island are due to long political ties between the Dutch and Aruba.
A majority of the population speak the language. Besides its use in the publication of official documents, the Dutch language is the principal means of instruction in all institutions of learning in Aruba. While the use of Dutch has a long history, only a tiny percentage of the islanders use it as their first language. Papiamento is the mother tongue of the majority of islanders.
Papiamento is an Afro-Portuguese Creole language with its roots in the 16th century. The language developed from the interaction of various native languages of slaves during that period. Most of these slaves were of African origin who worked under their Portuguese masters. In the period of development, the language borrowed from African and Portuguese languages. Arubans are especially fluent in Papiamento and Dutch, as those are the official languages of Aruba.
What language do they speak? Is it a Dutch colony? How many people live there? The questions were many, the answers few. From experiencing the people, landmarks, and climate to embarking on outdoor adventures, this culture-rich island offers countless ways to smile. Aruba - Your Happy Place awaits! Discover Your Happy Place. Explore Your Happy Place. Deaxo's Local Shortcut. Book a trip. Origin City or Airport. One Happy Island 70 square miles of happiness Our tiny island gem is nestled in the warm southern Caribbean with nearly different nationalities happily living together.
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