Carolinian | Ethnologue

A language of Northern Mariana Islands

ISO 639: cal
Alternate Names: Saipan Carolinian, Southern Carolinian, “Gupallao” (pej.)
Autonym: Refalúwasch
Population: 2,420 (2000 census). No monolinguals.
Location:: Widespread.
Language Status: 4 (Educational). Statutory language of national identity (1978, Constitution, Article 22(3)), co-official with English [eng] and Chamorro [cha].
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Pohnpeic-Chuukic, Chuukic
Dialects: None known. Lexical similarity: 95% with Satawalese [stw], 88% with Woleaian [woe] and Puluwatese [puw], 81% with Mortlockese [mrl], 78% with Chuukese [chk], and 74% with Ulithian [uli].
Language Use: All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. All also use Chamorro [cha], on Saipan; many speakers over age 50 speak it with a high level of proficiency. All also use English [eng].
Language Development: L1 taught, but English is language of instruction. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Literature. Newspapers. Videos. Dictionary. Texts.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Carolinian
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: 1 of 3 official languages in Northern Mariana Islands (with English [eng] and Chamorro [cha]). Christian.

Location: Widespread.