Number of Speakers
The January 2007 estimated population of the island was 281,000, while the figure for the March 1999 census, when most of the studies – though not the linguistic survey work referenced in this article – were performed, was about 261,000 (see under Corsica). Only a fraction of the population at either time spoke Corsican with any fluency. The 2001 population of 341,000 speakers on the island given by Ethnologue exceeds either census.
The use of Corsican over French has been declining. In 1980 about 70% of the population "had some command of the Corsican language". In 1990 out of a total population of about 254,000 the percentage had declined to 50%, with only 10% using it as a first language. The language appeared to be in serious decline when the French government reversed its unsupportive stand and began some strong measures to save it.
UNESCO classifies Corsican as a potentially endangered language, as it has "a large number of children speakers" but is "without an official or prestigious status". The Corsican language is a key vehicle for Corsican culture, which is notably rich in proverbs and in polyphonic song.
Read more about this topic: Corsican Language
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