Page Type: languageKiribati | Ethnologue

GIL ISO 639-3

Kiribati

I-Kiribati Autonym

A language of Kiribati

ISO 639
gil
Alternate Names
Gilbertese, Ikiribati, Kiribatese
Autonym
I-Kiribati
Population
103,000 in Kiribati (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 118,618.
Language Status
1 (National). De facto national language.
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Ikiribati
Dialects
Banaban. North-south dialect Division. In Tuvalu, Nui inherently intelligible with Kiribati, but has vocabulary and pronunciation differences. Lexical similarity: 26% with Pohnapeian [pon].
Typology
VOS.
Language Use
Vigorous. Also use English [eng].
Language Development
Most are literate in Kiribati, but little material is available. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1893–2016.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kiribati
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Christian.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Kiribati
User Population
6,600 in Fiji (2019). 3,000 or more Banaban.
Location
Scattered.
Dialects
Banaban.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Christian.
View other languages of Fiji
Language Name
Kiribati
User Population
1,480 in New Zealand (2013 census).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of New Zealand
Language Name
Kiribati
User Population
6,800 in Solomon Islands (2012 J. Leclerc).
Location
Choiseul province: Rob Roy island; Western province: Gizo island, 1 area; Honiara, Guadalcanal.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Relocated 1950s by the British from Kiribati. Christian.
View other languages of Solomon Islands
Language Name
Kiribati
User Population
100 in Tuvalu (2002 J. Leclerc).
Location
Nui district: Nui island northwest of Funafuti capital, between Nanumanga and Nukufetau islands.
Dialects
Nui (Nuian).
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Christian.
View other languages of Tuvalu

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