List of endangered languages of Oceania
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
Federated States of Micronesia
Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kapingamarangi language[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Kosraean language[1] | Severely endangered | Micronesia & Nauru | ||
Mokilese language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Mortlockese language, Mortlockese[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Namonuito language, Namonuito[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Ngatikese Men's Creole language, Ngatikese Men's Creole[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Nukuoro language, Nukuoro[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Nguluwan language[citation needed] | ||||
Paafang language, Paafang[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Pingelapese language, Pingelapese[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Puluwat language, Puluwat[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Satawal language, Satawal[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Ulithian language, Ulithian[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Woleaian language, Woleaian[1] | Severely endangered |
Indonesia
The UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger lists 88 endangered languages in Indonesia.
Melanesia
New Caledonia
The following languages of New Caledonia may be considered endangered.
Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arha language[1] | 35 | Critically endangered | Arhâ language | (1996 census) |
Arho language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Caac language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Drubea language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Fagauvea language (Northern)[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Fagauvea language (Southern)[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Fwâi language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Jawe language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Kumak language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Neku language[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Nemi language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Orowe language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Pije language[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Pwaamèi language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Pwapwa language[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Tiri language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Voh-Koné dialects[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Xaragure language[1] | Vulnerable |
Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Asumboa language[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Blablanga language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Faghani language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Gao language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Hoava language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Kokota language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Oroha language[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Ririo language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Savo language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Tanema language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Tanimbili language[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Teanu language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Vano language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Zazao language[1] | Critically endangered |
Vanuatu
Language | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Amblong language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Araki language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Aveteian language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Baki language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Bangsa language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Bierebo language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Bieria language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Dorig language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Emae language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Hiw language[1] | 280 | Definitely endangered | (2010 A.François) | |
Koro language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Labo language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Lakon language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Lehali language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Lemerig language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Lorediakarkar language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Löyöp language[1] | 240 | Vulnerable | Lehalurup | (2010 A.François) |
Mafea language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Malmariv language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Matanvat language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Mores language[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Mwesen language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Naati language (Näti)[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Naman language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Nasarian language[1] | 20 | Critically endangered | (1983 SIL) | |
Navwien language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Nisvai language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Nivat language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Niviar language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Olrat language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Polonomombauk language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Repanbitip language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Shark Bay language[1] | Vulnerable | |||
Ske language[1] | Severely endangered | |||
Sorsorian language (Sösörian)[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Sowa language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Tambotalo language[1] | 50 | Severely endangered | (1983 SIL) | |
Tape language[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Tolomako language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Tutuba language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Umbrul language (Numbuwul)[1] | Critically endangered | |||
Ura language[1] | 6 | Critically endangered | (1998 T Crowley) | |
Vera'a language[1] | Definitely endangered | |||
Volow language[1] | Critically endangered |
Palau
Language | Speakers | Source | Status | Ethnologue entry (ISO 639-3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tobian language | 22 (1995 SIL) | UNESCO | critically | |
Sonsorolese language | 600 | UNESCO | severely |
Polynesia
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2012) |
The following Polynesian languages are considered endangered.
Language | Speakers | Status | Ethnologue entry (ISO 639-3)[1] |
---|---|---|---|
Rapa language (French Polynesia)[1] |
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Rapa Nui language (Chile)[1] |
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Niuafo'ou language (Tonga)[1] |
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Kapingamarangi language (Micronesia)[1] |
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Nukumanu language (Papua New Guinea, Nukumanu Islands)[1] |
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Nukuoro language (Micronesia)[1] |
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Nukuria language (Papua New Guinea)[1] |
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Ontong Java language (Solomon Islands)[1] |
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Sikaiana language (Solomon Islands)[1] |
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Takuu language (Papua New Guinea)[1] |
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Tuvaluan language (Tuvalu)[1] |
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Anuta language (Solomon Islands)[1] |
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Emae language (Vanuatu)[1] |
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Futunan language (Wallis and Futuna)[1] |
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Futuna-Aniwa language (Vanuatu)[1] |
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Mele-Fila language (Vanuatu)[1] |
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Rennell-Bellona language (Solomon Islands)[1] |
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Tikopia language (Solomon Islands)[1] |
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West Uvean language (New Caledonia)[1] |
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Vaeakau-Taumako language (Solomon Islands)[1] |
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Pukapuka language (Cook Islands)[1] |
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Penrhyn language (Cook Islands)[1] |
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Tokelauan language (Tokelau)[1] |
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Niuean language (Niue)[1] |
Other
Language | Location | Speakers | Status | Comments | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austral language[1] | French Polynesia | Definitely endangered | |||
Chamorro language[1] | Guam/Northern Mariana Islands | Vulnerable | |||
Mangareva language[1] | French Polynesia | Severely endangered | |||
Rakahanga-Manihiki language[1] | Cook Islands | Definitely endangered | |||
Nauruan language[1] | Nauru | Severely endangered | |||
Niuean language[1] | Niue | Definitely endangered | |||
Norfuk language (Norfolk)[1] | Norfolk Island | Definitely endangered | |||
Norfuk language (Pitcairn)[1] | Pitcairn | Vulnerable | |||
Penrhyn language[1] | Cook Islands | Severely endangered | |||
Pukapukan language[1] | Cook Islands | Definitely endangered | |||
Rapa language[1] | French Polynesia | Severely endangered | |||
Cook Islands Māori [1] | Cook Islands | Vulnerable | Rarotongan language | ||
Rotuman language[1] | Fiji | Vulnerable | |||
Tokelauan language[1] | Tokelau | Severely endangered | |||
Tuamotuan language[1] | French Polynesia | Definitely endangered | |||
Tuvaluan language[1] | Tuvalu | Definitely endangered | |||
Hawaiian language[1] | Hawai'i | Definitely endangered |
Notes
- ^ 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 dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea 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.