The Commonwealth is a unique family of 56 independent countries spanning every continent – Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific.
According to The Commonwealth website, 33 of these vibrant states are considered small. They each have a diminutive population of 1.5 million or less, like big family gatherings in their own rights. On the other hand, the Commonwealth is the collective home to a colossal 2.5 billion people, with a youthful vibe of more than 60% aged 29 or under. Energy and potential abound.
But don’t even get us started on the real treasure… Languages.
Welcome to a Linguistic Paradise
There’s more to the Commonwealth than cricket matches and legal systems. There’s languages. The Commonwealth’s journal of international affairs, The Round Table, says “Commonwealth countries lead the world in linguistic diversity, with five members boasting 2,399 languages between them”. Yes, you read that right!
Let’s take a look at the Top 5 of tongues:
- Papua New Guinea – The linguistic heavyweight champion with 840 languages. This equates to 12% of the world’s languages spoken in an area as big as Sweden!
- Nigeria – 517 languages
- India – 453 languages
- Australia – 312 languages
- Cameroon – 274 languages
All in all, that’s a whole lot of languages, each with its own stories, traditions, and cultures waiting to be explored.
So, why does this matter to language lovers?
Easy. Every language you learn opens a door to understanding and connecting with another culture. The celebration of Commonwealth Day on 11th March is an annual reminder of the wealth of languages the association offers. The melodious tones of India. The rhythmic beat of Africa. The lyrical flow of Aborigine. Which will you choose?
At la Academia, every day is a language journey. So, pack your linguistic bags and get in touch to explore the rich diversity of your preferred Commonwealth language… or several!