List of endangered languages in Oceania
Encyclopedia
An endangered language
is a language
that it is at risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If it loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language
.
Oceania
(sometimes Oceanica) is a geographical
, often geopolitical
, region
consisting of numerous lands—mostly island
s in the Pacific Ocean
and vicinity. The term is often used in many languages to define one of the continent
s and is one of eight terrestrial ecozones.
Micronesia
New Caledonia
Oceania
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Endangered language
An endangered language is a language that is at risk of falling out of use. If it loses all its native speakers, it becomes a dead language. If eventually no one speaks the language at all it becomes an "extinct language"....
is a language
Language
Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
that it is at risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If it loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language
Extinct language
An extinct language is a language that no longer has any speakers., or that is no longer in current use. Extinct languages are sometimes contrasted with dead languages, which are still known and used in special contexts in written form, but not as ordinary spoken languages for everyday communication...
.
Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
(sometimes Oceanica) is a geographical
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, often geopolitical
Geopolitics
Geopolitics, from Greek Γη and Πολιτική in broad terms, is a theory that describes the relation between politics and territory whether on local or international scale....
, region
Region
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
consisting of numerous lands—mostly island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and vicinity. The term is often used in many languages to define one of the continent
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
s and is one of eight terrestrial ecozones.
MicronesiaMicronesiaMicronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest....
| Language | Ethnonym | Speakers | Source | ISO 639-3 | Ethnologue entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nguluwan language | 50 (2000 Osamu Sakiyama). | Ethnologue | nuw | ||
New CaledoniaNew CaledoniaNew Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
| Language | Ethnonym | Speakers | Source | ISO 639-3 | Ethnologue entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arhâ language | 35 (1996 census). | Ethnologue | |||
| Haeke language | 100 (1982 SIL). | Ethnologue | aek | ||
| Pwapwa language | 16 (1996 census). | Ethnologue | pop | ||
| Zire language | 4 (1996 census). | Ethnologue | sih | ||
OceaniaOceaniaOceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
| Language | Ethnonym | Speakers | Source | ISO 639-3 | Ethnologue entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amto language Amto language Amto is an Amto–Musan language spoken in Sandaun Province of Papua New Guinea in the Amanab and Rocky Peak Districts, south of the Upper Sepik River, toward the headwarters of the Left May River on the Samaia River. There are two villages, Amto and Habiyon.... |
Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
amt | |||
| Blablanga language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
blp | |||
| Bonerif language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
bnv | |||
| Gao language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
gga | |||
| Itik language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
itx | |||
| Karas language Karas language Karas is a divergent Trans–New Guinea language spoken on Karas Island off the Bomberai Peninsula, that appears to be most closely related to the West Bomberai languages.... |
Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
kgv | |||
| Keder language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
kdy | |||
| Koiari language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
aro | |||
| Koita language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
aro | |||
| Kokota language Kokota language Kokota is an Austronesian language spoken by perhaps as many as 1,200 people in three villages on Santa Isabel in the Solomon Islands. The villages of Goveo and Sisiga lie on the north coast, while Hurepelo lies on the south coast... |
Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
kkk | |||
| Mander language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
mqr | |||
| Maremgi language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
mrx | |||
| Mussau language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
aro | |||
| Oirata language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
oia | |||
| Sause language Sause language Sause is a Papuan language spoken in Indonesia. Its classification is uncertain, but it appears to be related to the Tor languages.... |
Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
sao | |||
| Suarmin language Suarmin language Suarmin is a Sepik language spoken in Sandaun Province, Papua-New Guinea. Alternative names are Akiapmin, Duranmin.... |
Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
seo | |||
| Taulil language Taulil language Taulil is a Papuan language spoken in East New Britain Province on the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea.... |
Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
tuh | |||
| Zazao language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
jaj | |||
PalauPalauPalau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
| Language | Ethnonym | Speakers | Source | ISO 639-3 | Ethnologue entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tobian language Tobian language Tobian is the language of Tobi, one of the Southwest Islands of Palau, and the main island of Hatohobei state... |
22 (1995 SIL). | Ethnologue | tox | ||
Papua New GuineaPapua New GuineaPapua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
| Language | Ethnonym | Speakers | Source | ISO 639-3 | Ethnologue entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abaga language Abaga language Abaga is a nearly extinct Kalam language of Papua New Guinea. It had once been classified as Finisterre.... |
5 (1994 SIL) 1,200 (1975 SIL). | Ethnologue | abg | ||
| Abom language | 15 (2002 SIL). | Ethnologue | aob | ||
| Aribwatsa language Aribwatsa language Aribwatsa, also known as Lae or Lahe, is an extinct member of the Busu subgroup of Lower Markham languages in the area of Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. Descendents of the Aribwatsa language community have mostly switched to the Bukawa language, which is spoken all along the north coast of... |
Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
laz | |||
| Bilakura language | 30 (2000 Wurm). | Ethnologue | bql | ||
| Dumun language | 35 (2000 Wurm). | Ethnologue | dui | ||
| Gorovu language | 15 (2000 Wurm). | Ethnologue | grq | ||
| Guramalum language | 3 or 4 (1987 SIL). | Ethnologue | grz | ||
| Gweda language | 26 (2001 SIL). | Ethnologue | grw | ||
| Kaki-ae language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
aro | |||
| Kamasa language | 7 (2003 SIL). | Ethnologue | klp | ||
| Karawa language | 63 (2003 SIL). | Ethnologue | xrw | ||
| Kawacha language | 12 (2000 Wurm). | Ethnologue | kcb | ||
| Kowaki language | 25 (2000 Wurm). | Ethnologue | xow | ||
| Laua language Laua language Laua, also known as Labu, is a native language of Papua New Guinea. It is spoken in the Central Province, north and west of Laua according to Ethnologue. Laua now has only one remaining speaker as of 1987, making it nearly extinct. There is little hope of recovering Laua since only one elder... |
1 (1987 SIL). | Ethnologue | luf | ||
| Magori language | 100 (2000 Wurm). | Ethnologue | zgr | ||
| Makolkol language Makolkol language Makolkol is an extinct Papuan language formerly spoken in East New Britain Province on the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea.... |
7 (1988 SIL). | Ethnologue | zmh | ||
| Mawak language | 25 (2000 Wurm). | Ethnologue | mjj | ||
| Musom language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
msu | |||
| Puari language | 35 (2003 SIL). | Ethnologue | pux | ||
| Ririo language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
rri | |||
| Sene language | 10 (1978 McElhanon). | Ethnologue | sej | ||
| Susuami language Susuami language The Susuami language is a heavily endangered Papuan language, spoken in the resettlement village of Manki along the upper Watut River, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea... |
10 (2000 Wurm). | Ethnologue | ssu | ||
| Tenis language | 30 (2000 Wurm). | Ethnologue | tns | ||
| Turaka language | 25 (2000 Wurm). | Ethnologue | trh | ||
| Turumsa language | 5 (2002 SIL). | Ethnologue | tqm | ||
| Unserdeutsch language Unserdeutsch language Unserdeutsch , or Rabaul Creole German, is a German-based creole language spoken primarily in Papua New Guinea. It was formed among the New Guinean children residing in a German-run orphanage... |
100 in Papua New Guinea Population includes 15 in New Britain, a few in other parts of Papua New Guinea and the rest in southeastern Queensland, Australia (1981 C Volker). | Ethnologue | uln | ||
Solomon IslandsSolomon IslandsSolomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
| Language | Ethnonym | Speakers | Source | ISO 639-3 | Ethnologue entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asumboa language | 10 (1999 SIL). | Ethnologue | aua | ||
| Laghu language Laghu language Laghu , also known as Hoatana or Katova, is an extinct language of Santa Isabel in the Solomon Islands. Its last speaker died in 1984... |
15 (1999 SIL). | Ethnologue | lgb | ||
| Oroha language Oroha language Oroha is an endangered Oceanic language of the Solomon Islands.- Numerals :-External links:* - an online, in-progress grammar of Oroha**... |
38 (1999 SIL). | Ethnologue | ora | ||
| Rennellese Sign Language language | 1 (1986 Gallaudet University). | Ethnologue | rsi | ||
| Tanema language | 3 (1999 SIL) 4 (2007 A.François). |
Ethnologue | tnx | ||
| Tanimbili language | 15 (1999 SIL). | Ethnologue | tbe | ||
| Lovono language | 5 (2007 A.François). | Ethnologue | vnk | ||
| Zazao language | 10 (1999 SIL). | Ethnologue | jaj | ||
VanuatuVanuatuVanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
| Language | Ethnonym | Speakers | Source | ISO 639-3 | Ethnologue entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aore language | 1 (1982 SIL). | Ethnologue | aor | ||
| Araki language Araki language Araki is a nearly extinct language spoken in the small island of Araki , south of Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu. Araki is gradually being replaced by Tangoa, a language from a neighbouring island.-The language:... |
8. | Ethnologue | akr | ||
| Hiw language Hiw language Hiw is an Oceanic language spoken on Hiw island, in the Torres islands of Vanuatu.It is distinct from Lo-Toga, the other language of the Torres group.-Phonology:Hiw has 9 phonemic vowels... |
280 (2010 A.François). | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
hiw | ||
| Löyöp language ("Lehalurup") | 240 (2010 A.François) | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
urr | ||
| Mafea language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
mkv | |||
| Malmariv language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
aro | |||
| Maragus language | 10 (1971 Tryon). | Ethnologue | mrs | ||
| Naati language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
aro | |||
| Nasarian language | 20 (1983 SIL). | Ethnologue | nvh | ||
| Navwien language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
aro | |||
| Nisvai language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
aro | |||
| Sösörian language | Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
aro | |||
| Ura language Ura language Ura may be:*Ura language *Ura language *Fungwa language... |
6 (1998 T Crowley). | Ethnologue Red Book Red Book of Endangered Languages The Red Book of Endangered Languages was published by UNESCO and collected a comprehensive list of the world's languages currently facing extinction... |
aro | ||