The thirty New Caledonian languages also known as Kanak languages form a branch of the Southern Oceanic languages. Their speakers are known as Kanaks. One language is extinct, one is critically endangered, four are severely endangered, five are endangered, and another five are vulnerable to extinction.
| New Caledonian | |
|---|---|
| Kanak | |
| Geographic distribution | New Caledonia |
| Linguistic classification | Austronesian
|
| Proto-language | Proto-New Caledonian |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | newc1243 |
Typology
The Cèmuhî, Paicî, Drubea, Numèè, and Kwenyii languages are tonal.[1]
Other than phonemically contrastive tone, typological features in New Caledonian languages that are typically unusual for Oceanic languages include nasalized vowels, very large vowel inventories, retroflex consonants, and voiceless nasals.[2]
Languages
- Loyalty Islands
- Mainland New Caledonian
- Southern New Caledonian
- Northern New Caledonian
The languages of the northern Voh–Koné area (*) are often discussed as a unit.
List of New Caledonian languages
| Language | Alternative Spelling | Speakers | Commune(s) | Province | Customary Area | Dialects | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nyâlayu language | Yalâyu | 1522 | Ouégoa, Belep, Pouébo | North Province | Hoot Ma Waap | Pooc/Haat (Belep) ; Puma/Paak/Ovac (Arama, Balade) |
| 2 | Kumak language | Fwa Kumak | 1100 (2009) | Koumac, Poum | North Province | Hoot ma Waap | Nêlêmwâ (Nénéma tribe), Nixumwak |
| 3 | Caac language | - | 890 | Pouébo | North Province | Hoot Ma Waap | Cawac (variant spoken at Conception in Le Mont-Dore since 1865) |
| 4 | Yuanga language | Yûâga | 1992 | Kaala-Gomen, Ouégoa | North Province | Hoot Ma Waap | - |
| 5 | Jawe language | - | 729 | Hienghène, Pouébo | North Province | Hoot Ma Waap | - |
| 6 | Nemi language | Nèmi | 768 | Hienghène | North Province | Hoot Ma Waap | Ouanga, Ouélis, Kavatch |
| 7 | Fwâi language | - | 1131 | Hienghène | North Province | Hoot Ma Waap | - |
| 8 | Pije language | - | 161 | Hienghène | North Province | Hoot Ma Waap | Tha (Tiendanite) |
| 9 | Pwaamei language | - | 219 | Voh | North Province | Hoot Ma Waap | Naakâ (Temala, Voh); Dhaak/Yaak (Fatenaoue) |
| 10 | Pwapwâ language | - | 16 | Voh | North Province | Hoot Ma Waap | - |
| 11 | Voh-Koné dialects | - | 878 | Voh, Koné | North Province | Hoot Ma Waap | Bwatoo (Oudjo, Népou, Baco and once spoken on Koniène Island), Haeke, Haveke, Hmwaeke, Havele, Vamale (Haute Tipindje), Waamwang |
| 12 | Cèmuhî language | Camuki | 2051 | Touho, Koné, and Poindimié | North Province | Paici Camuki | - |
| 13 | Paicî language | Paici | 5498 | Poindimié, Ponérihouen, Koné, Poya | North Province | Paici-Camuki | - |
| 14 | Ajië language | A'jië | 4044 | Houaïlou, Ponérihouen, Poya, Kouaoua | North Province | Ajië-Aro | - |
| 15 | Arhâ language | - | 35 | Poya | North Province | Ajië-Aro | - |
| 16 | Arhö language | Arö | 62 | Poya | North Province | Ajië-Aro | - |
| 17 | Orowe language | Abwébwé | 587 | Bourail | South Province | Ajië-Aro | - |
| 18 | Neku language | Néku | 221 | Bourail Moindou | South Province | Ajië-Aro | - |
| 19 | Sîchë | Zîchë, Sîshëë | 4 (extinct since April 2006) | Bourail, Moindou | South Province | Ajië-Aro | Sometimes considered a dialect of Ajië |
| 20 | Tîrî language | Tirî | 264 | La Foa, Sarraméa | South Province | Xaracuu | Tîrî, Mea |
| 21 | Xaracuu language | Xaracuu | 3784 | Canala, La Foa, Bouloupari | South Province | Xaracuu | - |
| 22 | Xârâgurè language | - | 566 | Thio, New Caledonia | South Province | Xaracuu | Language close to Xârâcùù |
| 23 | Ndrumbea language | Drubea | 946 | Païta, Dumbéa, Nouméa, Yaté | South Province | Djubéa-Kaponé | - |
| 24 | Numèè language | Numee/Kapone | 1814 | Yaté, Mont-Dore, Isle of Pines (New Caledonia) | South Province | Djubéa-Kaponé | Xêrê (Yaté), Wêê (île Ouen), kwênyii (Isle of Pines (New Caledonia)) |
| 25 | Nengone language | - | 6377 | Maré Island, Tiga | Loyalty Islands | Nengone | Iwateno (ceremonial/chiefly language) |
| 26 | Drehu language | - | 11338 | Lifou Island | Loyalty Islands | Drehu | Miny (ceremonial/chiefly language) |
| 27 | Iaai language | - | 1562 | Ouvéa Island | Loyalty Islands | Iaai | - |
References
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