Niuafo’ou | Ethnologue

A language of Tonga

ISO 639: num
Autonym: Niuafo’ou
Population: 1,000, all users. L1 users: 500 (2015 S. Tuilautala). L2 users: 500 (2015 S. Tuilautala). Ethnic population: 1,500 (2011 census). 523 on Niuafo’ou (2010), many elsewhere.
Location:: ’Eua and Tongatapu divisions; Ongo Niua division: Niuafo’ou island.
Language Status: 6b (Threatened).
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, Samoic-Outlier, East Uvean-Niuafo’ou
Dialects: Probably a dialect of East Uvean [wls] (Wallisian).
Typology: VSO; prepositions; dual number; 5 articles (ordinary and emotional specific/non-specific and quantitative), definiteness also marked by stress accent; 12 consonants and 5 vowels; stress on penultimate syllable; inclusive/exclusive pronouns, including singulars.
Language Use: Used in private when no Tongans present. Not used in church. Some young people, all adults. Used by all ages on Niuafo’ou and ’Eua islands. Only the older people speak it on Niuafo’ouin Vava’u, Tongatapu and Ha’apai Islands (2019 S. Tuilautala). All also use Tongan [ton].
Language Development: Grammar.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Niuafo’ou
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Christian.

Location: ’Eua and Tongatapu divisions; Ongo Niua division: Niuafo’ou island.