Also Known As:
CHamoru, Tjamoro, Sprache der Marianen
Dialects & Varieties
- Guam
- Saipan - fewer Spanish loanwords & more Japanese loanwords
- Rota - distinctive sound structure
Chamorro grammar
Chamorro grammar
Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
37,650 in the CNMI & Guam
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 2
A majority of community members speak the language. Speaker numbers are gradually decreasing.
2
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 4
Used mainly only in the home and/or with family, and may not be the primary language even in these domains for many community members.
4
Transmission
Transmission 2
Most adults in the community are speakers, but children generally are not.
2
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
72,300 in the CNMI & Guam
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
No results found.
Location and Context
Countries
Chamorro is indigenous to the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and Guam (Guahan).
Location Description
No results found.
Government Support
Recognized as an official language of Guam in 1972 and CNMI in 1985
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
No results found.
Other Languages Used By The Community
English
Number of Other Language Speakers:
None
Domains of Other Languages:
None
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
1971 Marianas Orthography Committee developed the first standard orthography of Chamorro. That evolved into the CNMI's 'one sound, one symbol' orthography and Guam's 'one word, one spelling' orthography.
Recent Resources
Information for registering in the CHamoru kindergarten immersion program
Private school immersion program to learn Chamorro
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