New Caledonian languages
The thirty New Caledonian languages form a branch of the Southern Oceanic languages. Their speakers are known as Kanaks.
Languages
![](../I/m/Langueskanak.jpg)
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.
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