New Caledonian languages

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Not to be confused with Languages of New Caledonia.
New Caledonian
Geographic
distribution		New Caledonia
Linguistic classificationAustronesian
Proto-languageProto-New Caledonian
Glottolognewc1243

The thirty New Caledonian languages form a branch of the Southern Oceanic languages. Their speakers are known as Kanaks. One language is extinct, one is critically endangered, 4 are severely endangered, 5 are endangered, and another 5 are vulnerable to extinction.

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[]

Populations of the native languages of New Caledonia. Grey, green, and red are the languages of the New Caledonian branch.
  • Loyalty Islands
  • New Caledonian
    • Southern New Caledonian
      • Extreme Southern
      • South Southern
        • Xaracuu–Xaragure:
        • Xârâcùù
        • Xârâgurè (endangered)
        • Zire–Tiri:
        • Tîrî (endangered)
        • Zire †
        • Wailic
          • Ajië
          • Arhö (critically endangered)
          • Arhâ (severely endangered)
          • Neku (severely endangered)
          • Orowe (endangered)
    • Northern New Caledonian
      • Vamale*
      • Haveke*
      • Haeke*
      • Central Northern
      • North Northern
        • Pwaamei (endangered)
        • Pwapwa (severely endangered)
          • Bwatoo
          • Hmwaveke
          • Waamwang
          • Fwâi
          • Jawe (vulnerable)
          • Nemi (vulnerable)
          • Pije (severely endangered)
      • Extreme Northern
        • Caac (vulnerable)
        • Kumak (vulnerable)
        • Yuanga
        • Nyâlayu

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 Pooc/Haat (Belep) ; Puma/Paak/Ovac (Arama, Balade)
2 Kumak language Fwa Kumak 1100 (2009) Koumac, Poum North Province Hoot ma Waap Nêlêmwâ (), 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 -
13 Paicî language Paici 5498 Poindimié, Ponérihouen, Koné, Poya North Province -
14 Ajië language A'jië 4044 Houaïlou, Ponérihouen, Poya, Kouaoua North Province -
15 Arhâ language - 35 Poya North Province -
16 Arhö language Arö 62 Poya North Province -
17 Orowe language Abwébwé 587 Bourail South Province -
18 Neku language Néku 221 Bourail Moindou South Province -
19 Sîchë Zîchë, Sîshëë 4 (extinct since April 2006) Bourail, Moindou South Province Sometimes considered a dialect of Ajië
20 Tîrî language Tirî 264 La Foa, Sarraméa South Province Tîrî, Mea
21 Xaracuu language Xaracuu 3784 Canala, La Foa, Bouloupari South Province -
22 Xârâgurè language - 566 Thio, New Caledonia South Province Language close to Xârâcùù
23 Ndrumbea language Drubea 946 Païta, Dumbéa, Nouméa, Yaté South Province -
24 Numèè language Numee/Kapone 1814 Yaté, Mont-Dore, Isle of Pines (New Caledonia) South Province 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 -
28 West Uvean language Fagauvea 1107 Ouvéa Island Loyalty Islands Iaai

References[]

  1. ^ Rivierre, Jean-Claude. 1993. Tonogenesis in New Caledonia. In Edmondson and Gregerson: Tonality in Austronesian languages, 155–173. Oceanic Linguistics Special Publication 24.
  2. ^ Blust, Robert (2013). The Austronesian languages. Vol. A-PL 008 (revised ed.). Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. hdl:1885/10191. ISBN 9781922185075.
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