List of endangered languages of the Pacific
This is a list of endangered languages of the Pacific, based on the definitions used by UNESCO.
An endangered language is a language that it is at risk of falling out of use because there is little transmission of the language to younger generations. If a language loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language.
Australia
According to the 2016 census, English is the only language spoken in the home for close to 72.7% of the population. The next most common languages spoken at home are Mandarin (2.5%), Arabic (1.4%), Cantonese (1.2%), Vietnamese (1.2%) and Italian (1.2%). A considerable proportion of first- and second-generation migrants are bilingual. [1]
Federated States of Micronesia
| Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kapingamarangi language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Kosraean language[2] | Severely endangered | Micronesia & Nauru | ||
| Mokilese language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Mortlockese language, Mortlockese[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Namonuito language, Namonuito[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Ngatikese Men's Creole language, Ngatikese Men's Creole[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Nukuoro language, Nukuoro[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Nguluwan language | ||||
| Paafang language, Paafang[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Pingelapese language, Pingelapese[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Puluwat language, Puluwat[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Satawal language, Satawal[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Ulithian language, Ulithian[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Woleaian language, Woleaian[2] | Severely endangered | |||
Indonesia
The UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger lists 88 endangered languages in Indonesia.
Melanesia
New Caledonia
The following languages of New Caledonia may be considered endangered.
| Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arha language[2] | 35 | Critically endangered | Arhâ language | (1996 census) |
| Arho language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Caac language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Drubea language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Fagauvea language (Northern)[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Fagauvea language (Southern)[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Fwâi language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Jawe language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Kumak language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Neku language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Nemi language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Orowe language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Pije language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Pwaamèi language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Pwapwa language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Tiri language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Voh-Koné dialects[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Xaragure language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
Solomon Islands
| Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asumboa language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Blablanga language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Faghani language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Gao language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Hoava language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Kokota language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Oroha language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Ririo language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Savo language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Tanema language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Tanimbili language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Teanu language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Vano language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Zazao language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
Vanuatu
| Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amblong language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Araki language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Aveteian language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Baki language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Bangsa language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Bierebo language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Bieria language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Dorig language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Emae language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Hiw language[2] | 280 | Definitely endangered | (2010 A.François) | |
| Koro language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Labo language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Lakon language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Lehali language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Lemerig language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Lorediakarkar language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Löyöp language[2] | 240 | Vulnerable | Lehalurup | (2010 A.François) |
| Mafea language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Malmariv language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Matanvat language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Mores language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Mwesen language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Naati language (Näti)[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Naman language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Nasarian language[3] | 5 | Critically endangered | (Nasarian at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)) | |
| Navwien language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Nisvai language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Nivat language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Niviar language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Olrat language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Polonomombauk language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Repanbitip language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Shark Bay language[2] | Vulnerable | |||
| Ske language[2] | Severely endangered | |||
| Sorsorian language (Sösörian)[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Tambotalo language[2] | 50 | Severely endangered | (1983 SIL) | |
| Tape language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Tolomako language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Tutuba language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Umbrul language (Numbuwul)[2] | Critically endangered | |||
| Ura language[2] | 6 | Critically endangered | (1998 T Crowley) | |
| Vera'a language[2] | Definitely endangered | |||
| Volow language[2] | Critically endangered | |||
Palau
| Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tobian language | 22 | Critically endangered | (1995 SIL) | |
| Sonsorolese language | 600 | Severely endangered | ||
Polynesia
The following Polynesian languages considered endangered are mostly Polynesian outliers spoken by tiny minorities.
| Language | Speakers | Status | Ethnologue entry (ISO 639-3)[2] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapa language (French Polynesia)[2] | |||
| Rapa Nui language (Chile)[2] | |||
| Niuafo'ou language (Tonga)[2] | |||
| Nukumanu language (Papua New Guinea, Nukumanu Islands)[2] | |||
| Nukuria language (Papua New Guinea)[2] | |||
| Ontong Java language (Solomon Islands)[2] | |||
| Sikaiana language (Solomon Islands)[2] | |||
| Takuu language (Papua New Guinea)[2] | |||
| Tuvaluan language (Tuvalu)[2] | |||
| Anuta language (Solomon Islands)[2] | |||
| Futunan language (Wallis and Futuna)[2] | |||
| Futuna-Aniwa language (Vanuatu)[2] | |||
| Mele-Fila language (Vanuatu)[2] | |||
| Rennell-Bellona language (Solomon Islands)[2] | |||
| Tikopia language (Solomon Islands)[2] | |||
| Vaeakau-Taumako language (Solomon Islands)[2] | |||
| Pukapuka language (Cook Islands)[2] | |||
| Penrhyn language (Cook Islands)[2] | |||
| Tokelauan language (Tokelau)[2] | |||
Other
| Language | Location | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austral language[2] | French Polynesia | Definitely endangered | |||
| Chamorro language[2] | Guam/Northern Mariana Islands | Vulnerable | |||
| Mangareva language[2] | French Polynesia | Severely endangered | |||
| Rakahanga-Manihiki language[2] | Cook Islands | Definitely endangered | |||
| Nauruan language[2] | Nauru | Severely endangered | |||
| Niuean language[2] | Niue | Definitely endangered | Vagahau Niue | ||
| Norfuk language (Norfolk)[2] | Norfolk Island | Definitely endangered | |||
| Norfuk language (Pitcairn)[2] | Pitcairn | Vulnerable | |||
| Penrhyn language[2] | Cook Islands | Severely endangered | |||
| Pukapukan language[2] | Cook Islands | Definitely endangered | |||
| Cook Islands Māori [2] | Cook Islands | Vulnerable | Rarotongan language | ||
| Rotuman language[2] | Fiji | Vulnerable | |||
| Tokelauan language[2] | Tokelau | Severely endangered | |||
| Tuamotuan language[2] | French Polynesia | Definitely endangered | |||
| Tuvaluan language[2] | Tuvalu | Definitely endangered | |||
| Hawaiian language[2] | Hawai'i | Definitely endangered | |||
References
- https://web.archive.org/web/20170709233002/http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0~2016~Main%20Features~Cultural%20Diversity%20Article~20
- Moseley, Christopher, ed. (2010). Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger. Memory of Peoples (3rd ed.). Paris: UNESCO Publishing. ISBN 978-92-3-104096-2. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
- "Nasarian". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
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