New Caledonian languages

Not to be confused with Languages of New Caledonia.
New Caledonian
Geographic
distribution:		 New Caledonia
Linguistic classification:

Austronesian

Glottolog: newc1243[1]

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 (Graphie alternative) Speakers Commune(s) Province customary area (Aire coutumière) 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 (Tribu de Nénéma), nixumwak
3 Caac language - 890 Pouébo North Province Hoot Ma Waap Cawac (variante parlée à la Conception au Mont Dore depuis 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 et parlé autrefois à l'île Koniène), haeke, haveke, hmwaeke, havele, vamale (Haute Tipindje), waamwang
12 Cèmuhî language camuki 2051 Touho, Koné, et 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 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 (langue éteinte depuis avril 2006) Bourail, Moindou South Province Ajië-Aro Parfois considéré comme une variante dialectale de l'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 Langue proche du 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 (langue cérémonielle ou langue des chefs)
26 Drehu language - 11338 Lifou Island Loyalty Islands Drehu Miny (langue cérémonielle ou langue des chefs)
27 Iaai language - 1562 Ouvéa Island Loyalty Islands Iaai -
28 West Uvean language fagauvea 1107 Ouvéa Island Loyalty Islands Iaai

References

  1. ↑ Nordhoff, Sebastian; Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2013). "New Caledonian". Glottolog. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.