AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA

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  Australia Anindilyakwa 1000 speakers in Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory, Gulf of Carpenteria SOV. Coastal, island. Scrub forest. Sea level to 200 meters. Hunter-gatherers traditionally
    Arrarnta Western About 1000 speakers, in Northern Territory, Alice Springs area Western Arrartna and Eastern Arrernte as separate languages. Southern Aranda is nearly extinct. Investigation needed: intelligibility with Andegerebinha, Anmatjirra. SOV. Savannah. Plains. Hunter-gatherers. NT 1956.
    Ngaanyatjarra About 1200 speakers in Warburton Ranges, Western Australia Literacy rate in first language: 11%. Grammar. NT: 1991
    Nunggubuyu 300 fluent speakers, 400 partial or second language speakers in Numbulwar, east Arnhem Land, Northern Territory Not intelligible with other languages. Bilingualism in Kriol. Children understand Nunggubuyu, but speak Kriol. Most Ritharrngu speakers around Numbulwar understand it fairly well. Hunter-gatherers. Coastal. 0 to 30 meters. Bible portions 1946-1993
    Kala Lagaw Ya 3,000 to 4,000 speakers in Western Torres Strait Islands, Queensland Outside the language area those younger than 30 are likely to speak Torres Strait Creole. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1994.SOV. Islands: volcanic, coral. Tropical island; trade wind dry season, monsoon wet; moderate rainfall. Sea level to 400 meters. Hunters; fishermen; agriculturalists.
 

 

        
  New Zealand                  Maori
     

 

    
  Vanuatu Bislama The majority of the population of 128,000 understands and uses it as a lingua franca. There are some first language speakers. Population total both countries 1,200 or more. Unlike Tok Pisin (Papua New Guinea) and Pijin (Solomon Islands) there are some French loan words. Partially intelligible with Pijin and Tok Pisin. Widely used in commerce, government, internal dealings. National language. Dictionary. Grammar. Literacy rate in first language: 10% to 30%. Literacy rate in second language: 25% to 50%. Newspapers. Bible 1998.
   

 

      
  Fiji Rotuman 9000 speakers on Rotuma Island Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1999. Agriculturalists; fishermen; copra production.
    Fijian 330,441 in Fiji or 46.2% of the population Eastern half of Viti Levu and its eastern offshore islands, Kadavu Island, Vanua Levu and its offshore islands, Nayau, Lakeba, Oneata, Moce, Komo, Namuka, Kabara, Vulaga, Ogea, Vatoa islands as mother tongue; other areas of Fiji as second language. The southern part of Vanua Levu has several dialects similar to Bau. On the northern part of Vanua Levu and adjacent islands people speak a variety somewhat related to Bau. Bau is very similar to Standard Fijian, used as traditional lingua franca among Fijians. National language. Dictionary. Grammar. VOS. Newspapers, radio programs. Lumbermen; agriculturalists: taro, yams, breadfruit, bananas; sugar cane, molasses, copra, coconut oil; miners: gold, copper; fishermen. Christian, traditional religion. Bible 1864 and 1997.
         
  Kiribati Kiribati 58,320 in Kiribati (1987). Population total all countries: 67,790. Also spoken in Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. Most are literate in Kiribati, but little material is available. Dictionary. Bible: 1893–1954. The language and speakers are called 'I-Kiribati'. VOS. Fishermen; sailors; agriculturalists; copra production. Christian.
     

 

    
  Tahiti Tahitian 117,000 in French Polynesia. Society Islands and some islands in the Tuamotus including the Mihiroa group. Also spoken in New Caledonia, New Zealand, Vanuatu. Official language. Dictionary. Bible: 1838–1913. Agriculturalists: taro, yams, sweet potato, corn, eggplant, tomato, melon, lettuce, coconut, breadfruit, Tahitian chestnut, mango, banana, coffee; fishermen; animal husbandry: pigs, cattle.
     

 

    
  Marshall Islands Marshallese    
 

 
  Samoa Samoan 199,377 in Samoa, 93% of population (1999). Population total all countries 426,394 No significant dialect variations, but important register-based distinctions in the phonology. The talking chiefs' dialect is very different; most Samoans have difficulty understanding it. 70% lexical similarity with Wallisian, 67% with Rarotongan, 66% with Tongan, 62% with Paumotu. Official language. Dictionary. VSO. Agriculturalists. Christian. Bible 1855-1970.
     

 

    
  Micronesia Kosraean 8,000 speakers in Micronesia, Kusaie Island, Caroline Islands. Also spoken in Nauru. National language. Vigorous.Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1928.
    Trukese 38,341 in Micronesia (1989 census). National language. Vigorous. Total 45,000 including second-language users (1991 UBS). Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1989–2001. Island. Agriculturalists; copra production.
     

 

    
  Papua New Guinea Bulu 906 (2000 census). West New Britain Province, Willaumez Peninsula. Speakers also use Bola.
    Hiri Motu    
    Huli    
    Kiribati 58,320 in Kiribati. Also spoken in Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. National language. Vigorous. Only 30% of the speakers are effectively bilingual in Kiribati and English. Most are literate in Kiribati, but little material is available. Dictionary. Bible: 1893–1954. The language and speakers are called 'I-Kiribati'. VOS. Fishermen; sailors; agriculturalists; copra production. Christian.
    Motu    
    Suau    
    Tinata Tuna    
    Tok Pisin 50,000 first language, 2,000,000 second language speakers  
    Toaripi 23,000 speakers in Gulf Province, Cape Possession to Cape Cupola. Kerema is a main town. Literacy rate in first language: 15% to 25%. Literacy rate in second language: 15% to 25%. Bible: 1983.
    Kuman 80,000 (1994 SIL). 10,000 monolinguals. Simbu Province, northern third, overlapping into Minj Subprovince of Western Highlands Province. Language of wider communication. Vigorous. Major language of the area. All domains. Oral use in local administration, in the first 3 grades in school, religion, local commerce. All ages. Positive language attitude. 70,000 use Tok Pisin as second language. 20,000 can also use English or various neighboring languages. Literacy rate in first language: 12%. Literacy rate in second language: 25% to 40%. 10,000 can read and write it. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1968–1995. SOV; clause chaining, auxiliary verbs with adjuncts. Mountain valley. Tropical forest, savannah. 1,200 to 4,500 meters. Swidden agriculturalists: coffee. Christian, traditional religion.
    Dobu 10,000 (1998 SIL). 60% monolingual.Milne Bay Province, Esa'ala District, Sanaroa, Dobu, and parts of Fergusson and Normanby islands. 500 villages. Trade language of most of D'entrecasteaux Islands. Lingua franca for 100,000 (1987 SIL). Speakers have some proficiency in Motu, English, adjacent languages. Literacy rate in first language: 90%. Literacy rate in second language: 90%. Dictionary. Bible: 1928. Many schools. SOV. Volcanic islands. Tropical forest. Sea level to 300 meters. Agriculturalists: yams.