New Caledonian languages
The thirty New Caledonian languages form a branch of the Southern Oceanic languages. Their speakers are known as Kanaks.
Languages
Populations of the native languages of New Caledonia. Grey, green, and red are the languages of the New Caledonian branch.
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 |
- |
28 |
West Uvean language |
Fagauvea |
1107 |
Ouvéa Island |
Loyalty Islands |
Iaai |
References
- ↑ Nordhoff, Sebastian; Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2013). "New Caledonian". Glottolog. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
|
---|
| Official language | |
---|
| Indigenous languages | |
---|
|
|
---|
| Sovereign states | |
---|
| Associated states of New Zealand | |
---|
| Dependencies and other territories | |
---|
|