Language

Haitian Creole, also known as Creole or Kreyòl in the Creole language, is a French-based creole language spoken by 10-12 million people worldwide. It is one of Haiti's two official languages and the native language of the majority of the population. According to some sources, Haitians are the world's largest community speaking a modern creole language. Haitian Creole is also spoken in areas where Haitians have migrated, such as other Caribbean islands, French Guiana, France, Canada (especially Quebec), and the United States. It is connected to Antillean Creole, which is spoken in the Lesser Antilles, as well as other creole languages based on French.

The use of, and education in, Haitian Creole has been a source of contention since at least the nineteenth century. Some Haitians see French as a colonial heritage, whilst francophones dismiss Creole as a poor person's French. Until the late twentieth century, Haitian presidents only spoke standard French to their fellow people, and until the twenty-first century, all education in Haitian elementary schools was in modern standard French, a second language for the vast majority of their students.