List of endangered languages of the Pacific

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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[]

Main article: List of Australian Aboriginal languages

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[]

Main article: Micronesian languages
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[citation needed]      
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[]

Main articles: Languages of Indonesia and List of endangered languages in Indonesia

The UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger lists 88 endangered languages in Indonesia.

Melanesia[]

New Caledonia[]

Main article: Languages of 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    

Papua New Guinea[]

Main articles: Languages of Papua New Guinea and List of endangered languages in Papua New Guinea

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[]

Main article: Languages of 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[]

  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds 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.
  3. ^ "Nasarian". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
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