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Aukan
A language of Suriname |
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Population: |
15,542 in Suriname. 10% to 20% monolingual. Population
includes 14,353 Aukan, 33 Aluku, 1,156 Paramaccan
(1980 census). Population total all countries: 22,134. |
| Region: |
Eastern along the Marowijne and Tapanahony rivers,
northeastern along the Cottica River. Aluku are
along the French Guiana border. Paramaccan are in
northeast Suriname. In the 1980s and 1990s many
went to Paramaribo. Also spoken in French Guiana. |
| Alternate
Names: |
Ndyuka, Ndjuká, Njuká,
"Djuka", "Djoeka", Aukaans,
Okanisi |
| Dialects |
Aukan, Aluku (Aloekoe, Boni), Paramaccan. Kwinti
is further removed from Aukan than are Aluku and
Paramaccan. |
| Classification: |
Creole, English based, Atlantic, Suriname, Ndyuka |
| Language
use
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Vigorous. In Paramaribo some have shifted to Dutch,
some younger ones to Sranan. All domains. Used in
oral and written form in religious services. Positive
language attitude. Most men can speak Sranan Tongo,
and many women can understand it. Schools are in
Dutch, so many younger ones can read and write it,
but the majority are not fluent. Perhaps 30% to
50% can speak all 3 languages. |
| Language
development |
Literacy rate in first language: below 10%. Literacy
rate in second language: 15% to 25%. Radio programs.
Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1999. |
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The
Aukan Society
The society
was formed by escaped slaves. Subsistence and
economy is Amerindian; social culture and religion
are West African. Aluku has more French influence
than Paramaccan does. Any spelling of Ndyuka without
the initial nasal is considered derogatory. 'Aukan'
is English, 'Aukaans' is Dutch. In the early 1900s
an Aukaner named Afaka developed a syllabic writing
system, but few learned to read it, and it was
not officially endorsed. 12 clans. Tonal. Coastal,
mountain slope, riverine. Swampy, rainforest.
Gold miners; river transport; lumbermen; agriculturalists;
manual labor; government workers; manufacturing;
politics. Traditional religion, Christian. |
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