User:Klhart3/Culture of Belize

 Language of Belize Notes 

About 200,000(dated) people with more than 6 different languages

English Creole is considered a broken version of English because the "Creoles" don't have culture

"Mestizos" (majority Spanish Speaking rural communities) were just like the Mexicans or Guatemalans (no distinct culture)

Only people with culture are marginalized groups like Mayans, Hindus, Lebanese, Chinese, Garifuna, and Mennonites

European "high culture" as a way of advancement

A lot of their culture revolves around British imperialism and control.


 * Miller, Daniel, editor. Worlds Apart. Routledge, 1995, https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=ISq0p5SgGgIC&oi=fnd&pg=PA110&dq=english creole Belize gender&ots=mcu8Uoye5Q&sig=1mgcbBSfxpfx7aJzRE5CZdR8c5o#v=onepage&q=english creole Belize gender&f=false.

-Fear of Belizean-born Creole speakers that Spanish may replace English Creole as the lingua franca of Belize, as it is by the behaviors of Spanish-speaking immigrants.

-Fear of cultural, economic, and political domination by Spanish speaking “aliens” runs high in Dangriga today, as it does throughout much of Belize.

-Tensions are high between “born-Belizeans,” or natives to the nation, and foreigners, particularly Spanish speakers

-Despite the near-hegemonic status of English Creole and the relatively privileged status of Creole people in Belize, Creole speakers commonly defer to the superiority of speakers of foreign varieties of English, like those associated with the United States and England, and accord them greater prestige.

-The only officially English-speaking nation in Central America. Its lingua franca is a form of English Creole.

-Xenophobic views in Belize hold that the Spanish speaking republics of Central America are warlike nations marked by racism and prejudice, while Belize is an enclave of culturally and linguistically diverse people who live together in peace and participate in a democratic, British parliamentary style of government

-Children of smaller ethnic groups like Garifuna feel forced to speak one of the bigger languages like English Creole and therefore leads to a diminishing number of people speaking these languages.

-However, despite the relatively large size of this group in Belize today, many locals who were born and raised in Dangriga – Creoles, Garinagus, and even Spanish Creoles – depict those they label as “Spanish” or “aliens” as outsiders who usurp the rights of “authentic Belizeans” simply by their presence in the nation. Those who are judged to be recent immigrants because of their language practices – those who either do not speak English Creole or speak it with an accent – are particularly stigmatized.

-Today, people of Spanish-language heritage who own businesses or hold high status jobs are particularly reviled for the privileges they possess.

-All Belizeans accept the fact that some foreigners – particularly those from developed nations and those with lighter skin tones – are of higher status and more privileged than local Creoles. Similarly, more standard varieties of English are considered to indicate higher status than any local variety. Both “States” and “the Queen’s English,” U.S. and British varieties respectively, are seen to indicate greater status than Creole.


 * BONNER, D. (2001). Garifuna children's language shame: Ethnic stereotypes, national affiliation, and transnational immigration as factors in language choice in southern Belize. Language in Society, 30(1), 81-96. doi:10.1017/S004740450100104X

-383,000 = population


 * “Population, Total.” Data, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/sp.pop.totl .

 Language of Belize Rough Draft 

 Language of Belize Draft 2 
 * With a small population of nearly 400,000 people, Belize has over 6 distinct languages that each hold their own cultural implications. All of these languages create a hierarchy with English at the top and Spanish at the bottom. Belize is the only Central American country with English as its national language , and this is because of the country's rich history of British imperialism . As a result, the English language along with Western culture has left a lasting imprint on Belize's culture. Nationwide, Belizeans regard American and British English as the highest form of communication. British and American visitors, especially higher ranking officials, are celebrated and treated with honors. Although it is regarded as the highest form of language, a more common vernacular called English Creole is spoken throughout Belize. To speak English Creole means, to those living in Belize, that you are a "born-Belizean." This automatically places you above "aliens," particularly those of Spanish speaking descent. The tension between English Creole speakers and Spanish speakers derives from immigrants from other Central American countries like Guatemala as well as the country's history of Spanish-British conflicts. This language tension accompanied by differences in skin tone, with Creole speakers having darker skin and Spanish speakers having lighter skin, creates prejudice from both sides.
 * Need to add more and revise sentence structure.

With a population of nearly 400,000 people, Belize has more than 6 distinct languages that each hold their own cultural implications. All of these languages create a hierarchy with English at the top and Spanish at the bottom. Belize is the only Central American country with English as its national language, and this is because of the country's rich history of British imperialism. As a result, the English language along with Western culture has left a lasting imprint on Belize's culture.

Nationwide, Belizeans regard American and British English as the highest form of communication. British and American visitors, especially higher ranking officials, are celebrated and treated with honors. In some cases, being able to speak "proper" English as well as being informed on European and American high culture allows for individuals in Belizean society to progress their careers and gain an elevated social status.

Although English is regarded as the highest form of language, a more common vernacular called English Creole is spoken throughout Belize. To speak English Creole means, to those living in Belize, that you are a "born-Belizean." This automatically places you above :outsiders" particularly those of Spanish speaking descent. Though Spanish speakers make up a majority of rural Belizeans, English Creole speakers typically regard the Spanish as just like the Guatemalans and Mexicans in regard to their culture, meaning they don't have any traditions special to them. The tension between English Creole speakers and Spanish speakers derives from immigrants from other Central American countries like Guatemala as well as the country's history of Spanish-British conflicts.


 * Need to fix the citation issues.
 * Rework some of the sentences to be clearer and have amore neutral tone.