English is the official language of Guyana, which is the only South American country with English as the official language.[1][2]
Guyanese Creole (an English-based creole with African, Indian, and Amerindian syntax) is widely spoken in Guyana.[1]
Guyanese Hindustani is retained and spoken by some Indo-Guyanese for cultural and religious reasons. Guyanese Bhojpuri may be used by older generations, folk songs, or in a limited way at home, while standard Hindi is used in religious service, writing, and passively through the consumption of Hindi film exports from India.[3] Tamil is also retained in Madras identifying communities.
A number of Amerindian languages are also spoken by a minority of the population. These include Cariban languages such as Macushi, Akawaio and Wai-Wai; and Arawakan languages such as Arawak (or Lokono) and Wapishana.[1][2]
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