MP
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Northern Mariana Islands
Summary
Official Name
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Population
56,200
Principal Languages
English
Literacy Rate
97% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
General References
Bender, B. 1971, Bender and Capelle 1996, Bender and Rehg 1991, Ellis 1991
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Northern Mariana Islands is 4. All are living languages. Of these, 3 are indigenous and 1 is non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional and 1 is in trouble. Also listed are 4 unestablished languages.
Languages
- Carolinian cal
- Widespread. Users: 2,420 (2000 census). No monolinguals. Status: 4 (Educational). Statutory language of national identity (1978, Constitution, Article 22(3)), co-official with English [eng] and Chamorro [cha]. Alternate Names: Saipan Carolinian, Southern Carolinian, “Gupallao” (pej.) Autonym: Refalúwasch Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Pohnpeic-Chuukic, Chuukic
- Chamorro cha
- Widespread. Users: 14,200 in Northern Mariana Islands (2005 UNSD). Very few monolinguals. Status: 3 (Wider communication). Statutory language of national identity (1978, Constitution, Article 22(3)), dominant indigenous language; co-official with English [eng] and Carolinian [cal]. Alternate Names: Chamorru, Tjamoro Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Chamorro
- Chinese, Mandarin cmn
- Widespread. Users: 11,100 in Northern Mariana Islands (2017). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
- English eng
- Widespread. Users: 58,300 in Northern Mariana Islands, all users. L1 users: 9,600 in Northern Mariana Islands (2019 World Factbook). L2 users: 48,700 (2019). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1978, Constitution, Article 22(3)), co-official with Chamorro [cha], Carolinian [cal]. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
- Japanese jpn
- Widespread. Users: 1,000 in Northern Mariana Islands (2000 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Japonic
- Korean kor
- Widespread. Users: 2,230 in Northern Mariana Islands (2000 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
- Tagalog tgl
- Widespread. Users: 15,500 in Northern Mariana Islands (2005 UNSD). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
- Tanapag tpv
- Northern Mariana Islands, Saipan, west central coast, Tanapag community. Users: 10 (2011 SIL), decreasing. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Northern Carolinian, Talaabog, Talaabwogh Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Pohnpeic-Chuukic, Chuukic
Languages by Status
English
[eng] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1978, Constitution, Article 22(3)), co-official with Chamorro [cha], Carolinian [cal]. 58,300 in Northern Mariana Islands, all users. L1 users: 9,600 in Northern Mariana Islands (2019 World Factbook). L2 users: 48,700 (2019).
Carolinian
[cal] 4 (Educational). Statutory language of national identity (1978, Constitution, Article 22(3)), co-official with English [eng] and Chamorro [cha]. 2,420 (2000 census). No monolinguals.
Tanapag
[tpv] 7 (Shifting). 10 (2011 SIL), decreasing.
Guam and Northern Mariana Islands
Language Vitality Profile
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Language Status Profile
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