List of endangered languages of Oceania

Language Endangerment Status
Extinct (EX)
  • Extinct (EX)
Endangered
  • Critically Endangered (CR)
  • Severely Endangered (SE)
  • Definitely Endangered (DE)
  • Vulnerable (VU)
  • (list)
  • (list)
  • (list)
  • (list)
Safe
  • no list
Other categories
Related topics
UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger category
UNESCO Atlas of the World's
Languages in Danger categories

This is a list of endangered languages of Oceania, 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

Main article: List of Australian Aboriginal languages

According to the 2016 census, English is the only language spoken in the home for close to 72.7% of the population. The next most common languages spoken at home are Mandarin (2.5%), Arabic (1.4%), Cantonese (1.2%), Vietnamese (1.2%) and Italian (1.2%). A considerable proportion of first- and second-generation migrants are bilingual. [1]

Federated States of Micronesia

Main article: Micronesian languages
Language Speakers Status Comments Ref
Kapingamarangi language[2]   Severely endangered    
Kosraean language[2]   Severely endangered Micronesia & Nauru  
Mokilese language[2]   Critically endangered    
Mortlockese language, Mortlockese[2]   Definitely endangered    
Namonuito language, Namonuito[2]   Severely endangered    
Ngatikese Men's Creole language, Ngatikese Men's Creole[2]   Definitely endangered    
Nukuoro language, Nukuoro[2]   Definitely endangered    
Nguluwan language      
Paafang language, Paafang[2]   Severely endangered    
Pingelapese language, Pingelapese[2]   Severely endangered    
Puluwat language, Puluwat[2]   Severely endangered    
Satawal language, Satawal[2]   Severely endangered    
Ulithian language, Ulithian[2]   Severely endangered    
Woleaian language, Woleaian[2]   Severely endangered    

Indonesia

Main articles: Languages of Indonesia and List of endangered languages in Indonesia

The UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger lists 88 endangered languages in Indonesia.

Melanesia

New Caledonia

Main article: Languages of New Caledonia

The following languages of New Caledonia may be considered endangered.

Language Speakers Status Comments Ref
Arha language[2] 35 Critically endangered Arhâ language (1996 census)
Arho language[2]   Critically endangered    
Caac language[2]   Vulnerable    
Drubea language[2]   Vulnerable    
Fagauvea language (Northern)[2]   Vulnerable    
Fagauvea language (Southern)[2]   Vulnerable    
Fwâi language[2]   Vulnerable    
Jawe language[2]   Vulnerable    
Kumak language[2]   Vulnerable    
Neku language[2]   Severely endangered    
Nemi language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Orowe language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Pije language[2]   Severely endangered    
Pwaamèi language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Pwapwa language[2]   Severely endangered    
Tiri language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Voh-Koné dialects[2]   Definitely endangered    
Xaragure language[2]   Vulnerable    

Papua New Guinea

Main articles: Languages of Papua New Guinea and List of endangered languages in Papua New Guinea

Solomon Islands

Language Speakers Status Comments Ref
Asumboa language[2]   Severely endangered    
Blablanga language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Faghani language[2]   Vulnerable    
Gao language[2]   Vulnerable    
Hoava language[2]   Vulnerable    
Kokota language[2]   Vulnerable    
Oroha language[2]   Severely endangered    
Ririo language[2]   Critically endangered    
Savo language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Tanema language[2]   Critically endangered    
Tanimbili language[2]   Severely endangered    
Teanu language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Vano language[2]   Critically endangered    
Zazao language[2]   Critically endangered    

Vanuatu

Main article: Languages of Vanuatu
Language Speakers Status Comments Ref
Amblong language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Araki language[2]   Critically endangered    
Aveteian language[2]   Critically endangered    
Baki language[2]   Vulnerable    
Bangsa language[2]   Critically endangered    
Bierebo language[2]   Vulnerable    
Bieria language[2]   Critically endangered    
Dorig language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Emae language[2]   Vulnerable    
Hiw language[2] 280 Definitely endangered   (2010 A.François)
Koro language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Labo language[2]   Vulnerable    
Lakon language[2]   Vulnerable    
Lehali language[2]   Vulnerable    
Lemerig language[2]   Critically endangered    
Lorediakarkar language[2]   Critically endangered    
Löyöp language[2] 240 Vulnerable Lehalurup (2010 A.François)
Mafea language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Malmariv language[2]   Vulnerable    
Matanvat language[2]   Critically endangered    
Mores language[2]   Severely endangered    
Mwesen language[2]   Critically endangered    
Naati language (Näti)[2]   Critically endangered    
Naman language[2]   Critically endangered    
Nasarian language[3] 5 Critically endangered   (Nasarian at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015))
Navwien language[2]   Critically endangered    
Nisvai language[2]   Critically endangered    
Nivat language[2]   Critically endangered    
Niviar language[2]   Critically endangered    
Olrat language[2]   Critically endangered    
Polonomombauk language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Repanbitip language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Shark Bay language[2]   Vulnerable    
Ske language[2]   Severely endangered    
Sorsorian language (Sösörian)[2]   Critically endangered    
Tambotalo language[2] 50 Severely endangered   (1983 SIL)
Tape language[2]   Critically endangered    
Tolomako language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Tutuba language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Umbrul language (Numbuwul)[2]   Critically endangered    
Ura language[2] 6 Critically endangered   (1998 T Crowley)
Vera'a language[2]   Definitely endangered    
Volow language[2]   Critically endangered    

Palau

Language Speakers Status Comments Ref
Tobian language 22 Critically endangered (1995 SIL)
Sonsorolese language 600 Severely endangered

Polynesia

The following Polynesian languages considered endangered are mostly Polynesian outliers spoken by tiny minorities.

Language Speakers Status Ethnologue entry
(ISO 639-3)[2]
Rapa language (French Polynesia)[2]    
Rapa Nui language (Chile)[2]    
Niuafo'ou language (Tonga)[2]    
Nukumanu language (Papua New Guinea, Nukumanu Islands)[2]    
Nukuria language (Papua New Guinea)[2]    
Ontong Java language (Solomon Islands)[2]    
Sikaiana language (Solomon Islands)[2]    
Takuu language (Papua New Guinea)[2]    
Tuvaluan language (Tuvalu)[2]    
Anuta language (Solomon Islands)[2]    
Futunan language (Wallis and Futuna)[2]    
Futuna-Aniwa language (Vanuatu)[2]    
Mele-Fila language (Vanuatu)[2]    
Rennell-Bellona language (Solomon Islands)[2]    
Tikopia language (Solomon Islands)[2]    
Vaeakau-Taumako language (Solomon Islands)[2]    
Pukapuka language (Cook Islands)[2]    
Penrhyn language (Cook Islands)[2]    
Tokelauan language (Tokelau)[2]    

Other

Language Location Speakers Status Comments Ref
Austral language[2] French Polynesia   Definitely endangered    
Chamorro language[2] Guam/Northern Mariana Islands   Vulnerable    
Mangareva language[2] French Polynesia   Severely endangered    
Rakahanga-Manihiki language[2] Cook Islands   Definitely endangered    
Nauruan language[2] Nauru   Severely endangered    
Niuean language[2] Niue   Definitely endangered Vagahau Niue  
Norfuk language (Norfolk)[2] Norfolk Island   Definitely endangered    
Norfuk language (Pitcairn)[2] Pitcairn   Vulnerable    
Penrhyn language[2] Cook Islands   Severely endangered    
Pukapukan language[2] Cook Islands   Definitely endangered    
Cook Islands Māori [2] Cook Islands   Vulnerable Rarotongan language  
Rotuman language[2] Fiji   Vulnerable    
Tokelauan language[2] Tokelau   Severely endangered    
Tuamotuan language[2] French Polynesia   Definitely endangered    
Tuvaluan language[2] Tuvalu   Definitely endangered    
Hawaiian language[2] Hawai'i   Definitely endangered    

References

  1. ^ "2071.0 – Census of Population and Housing: Reflecting Australia – Stories from the Census, 2016". www.abs.gov.au. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  2. ^ 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 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.
  3. ^ "Nasarian". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-05-14.
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