Languages

Many of the members of the colony speak a German dialect, "Plautdietsch" (similar to today's Low German spoken near the North Sea). This dialect is the vernacular and was brought along by their ancestors via Holland, Prussia and Russia and passed on throughout the generations. There are also many indigenous inhabitants who speak it. Standard German, on the other hand, is spoken at school, church and official events.

In addition most of the inhabitants have a command of Spanish, which is essential for their contact with their Spanish-speaking neighbors and for academic studies.

The educational institutions – all of them recognized by the national Ministry for Education and Culture – are bilingual: students are taught in German and Spanish. A resolution of the Ministry permits elementary schools to be taught 80% in German and 20% in Spanish.

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