Nyelâyu

A language of New Caledonia

ISO 639: yly
Alternate Names: Nielaiou, Nielaiu, Nyalayu, Puma, Yalasu, Yalayu
Population: 1,960 (2009 census).
Location:: North province: Belep island; mainland at Arama, Balade, and Tiari.
Language Status: 6b* (Threatened).
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, New Caledonian, Northern, Extreme Northern
Dialects: Belep, Arama, Tiari-Balade.
Typology: VOS; exclusively suffixing morphology; 4 noun classes; ergativity (split-intransitive nominative-absolutive); 18 consonants and 10 vowels; alienable/inalienable possession.
Language Use: Positive attitudes.
Language Development: Taught a few hours a month at a private junior high at Pouébo. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts.
Other Comments: Christian.

Location: North province: Belep island; mainland at Arama, Balade, and Tiari.