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Gustavia English | |
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Region | Caribbean |
Early forms | |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | – |
Glottolog | None |
IETF | en-u-sd-bqsa |
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Gustavia English is a unique variety of English spoken in the port city of Gustavia, on the French island of St. Barthélemy in the Caribbean's Leeward Islands. With the smallest population of English speakers in the Caribbean, it is likely the most endangered variety. The majority of Gustavia English speakers are Afro-European, while the rest of the island's population is predominantly white and French-speaking. St. Barthélemy, often called St. Barths, separated from Guadeloupe in 2007 to become an overseas collectivity. The island, covering 21 km2, relies mainly on tourism and has a population of 2,332.[1][failed verification]
Unlike neighboring islands, Gustavia English did not undergo a creolization process. While there may be slight influences from Saint Kitts Creole, the language shows closer ties to nonstandard English varieties from the British Isles and North America. The social environment in Gustavia, where immigrants lived in close social relationships with their slaves, likely contributed to this distinct linguistic development.[1][failed verification]