Page Type: languageRapa Nui | Ethnologue

RAP ISO 639-3

Rapa Nui

Rapa Nui Autonym

A language of Chile

ISO 639
rap
Alternate Names
Easter Island, Pascuense, Rapanui
Autonym
Rapa Nui
Population
1,000 (2016 R. Weber). Ethnic population: 5,000 (Kieviet 2016). Approximately 3,600 on Easter Island.
Location:
Valparaíso region: Easter Island, 3,800 km from Chile, 4,000 km from Tahiti.
Language Status
6b (Threatened). Recognized language (1993, Indigenous Peoples Law (No. 19.253)).
Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Rapanui
Dialects
None known. Lexical similarity: 64% with Hawaiian [haw], Mangareva [mrv], and Rarotongan [rar]; 63% with Marquesan [mrq]; 62% with Tahitian [tah] and Tuamotuan [pmt].
Typology
VSO; prepositions; noun head final; common and proper nouns; dual number; article; isolating language; aspect markers; 10 consonants and 10 vowels (5 short, 5 long); non-tonal; stress on penultimate syllable; inclusive/exclusive pronouns; verb serialization.
Language Use
Was vigorous, but now declining. Young generation losing interest in the language. Revival efforts are in progress (Wurm 2007). Home, education. Some young people, all adults. All also use Spanish [spa].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 50%–75%. Literacy rate in L2: 80%–90% in Spanish [spa]. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2018. Agency: Academia de la Lengua Rapa Nui.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Rapa Nui
Writing
Latin script [Latn].

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Valparaíso region: Easter Island, 3,800 km from Chile, 4,000 km from Tahiti.