This weekend I had the honor of attending an interesting lecture in the main hall of the National Library of Aruba. The Fundacion Lanta Papiamento (FLP) organized an evening lecture titled “Orthography of Papiamento: Cause and Consequence.”
The speaker was Mr. Ramon Todd Dandaré, Mag. Ling., and the MC was the president of UNOCa, Shahayra Croes.
During the evening, Ramon Todd Dandaré presented the history of Papiamento orthography from the year 1775 — the year in which the first words in Papiamento were written — up to today in 2026. He also addressed the fact that two orthographies of our language currently exist. Part of this discussion included how Dutch was imposed on us by our colonizers, the choice of the phonological spelling system by the islands of Curaçao and Bonaire, and the etymological system in Aruba. Aruba’s choice for the etymological system was highlighted as playing an important role in our struggle for Status Aparte.
In a pleasant atmosphere, the public had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the development and future of our language. Mr. Todd Dandaré concluded his presentation by expressing his wish and advice for the development of Papiamento, stating that he would not be opposed to schools in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao teaching and instructing our children in both forms of Papiamento — the phonological as well as the etymological system.
The hall was filled with members of the Aruban community who support FLP in its struggle for our language. Among those present were Astrid Britten, Olga Buckley, Joyce Pereira, Xiomara Maduro, Desiree Correa, Amy Lasten, Rubia Bernabela, Trudy Hassel, Lupita Bernabela, Olivia Benschop-Erasmus, Araisa Todd, Marvin Odor, Michael Paesch, and Glenda Maduro.
Mrs. Joyce Pereira also addressed the audience, thanking everyone for their support and inviting all who feel a connection with Papiamento to join FLP.
It is admirable that both Mr. Todd Dandaré and FLP continue the struggle in defense of our language, which, in my opinion, is one of our most unique and greatest treasures — something we can proudly carry with us wherever we go in the world.
