Niuafoʻou language
| Niuafoʻou | |
|---|---|
| Ko te lea faka Niuafoʻou | |
| Native to | Tonga |
Native speakers | 1000[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | num |
| Glottolog | niua1240 |
 Niuafoʻou is not endangered according to the classification system of the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger | |
Niuafoʻou, or Niuafoʻouan, is the language spoken on Tonga's northernmost island, Niuafoʻou.
Niuafoʻouan has traditionally been classified as closest to ʻUvean and Tokelauan, in an East Uvean–Niuafoʻou branch. However, recent research suggests that it is closest to its neighbour, Tongan, as one of the Tongic languages.[2] Niuafoʻou is partly mutually intelligible with Tongan.[3][4] Information is scarce about the language, with little published sources available.[4]
Phonology
[edit]The phonology of Niuafoʻou is similar to that of Tongan, with twelve consonants and five vowel phonemes.
| Labial | Alveolar | Velar | Glottal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m | n | ŋ | |
| Plosive | p | t | k | ʔ |
| Fricative | f v | s | h | |
| Lateral | l |
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | i | u | |
| Mid | e | o | |
| Low | a |
Vowels are more centralized when unstressed. /i/ and /u/ are de-voiced under some conditions.[5]
Sometimes the phoneme /t/ is realized as a apico-alveolar flap (/ɾ/). /h/ is only realized as /h/ at the beginning of words. In the middle of words, it is either /ɦ/ or /x/.[5]
Syllable structure
[edit]Niuafoʻou has a very simple syllable structure, (C)V. However, it is apparently transitioning towards allowing consonant clusters, due to the influence of foreign languages and the de-voicing of vowels.[5]
Status
[edit]In a 1980 article in The Journal of the Polynesian Society, T. S. Dye states that speakers of Niuafoʻou are bilingual and able to speak Tongan easily. Dye remarked that the increasing influence of the Tongan language, specifically with children learning it at schools, would mean that the language of Niuafoʻou would eventually become Tongan.[3]
In September 2022 language campaigners called for it to be taught in primary schools on Niuafo’ou.[6] Per Ethnologue, the Niuafoʻou language is not known to be taught in schools.[7] Ethnologue considers Niuafoʻou to be an endangered language.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Niuafoʻou at Ethnologue (24th ed., 2021)
- ^ Marck, Jeff (2000), Topics in Polynesian languages and culture history. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
- ^ a b Dye, T. S. (September 1980). "The Linguistic Position of Niuafo'ou". The Journal of the Polynesian Society. 89 (3): 349–357. JSTOR 20705492. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
- ^ a b Biggs, Bruce (1971). "The Languages of Polynesia". In Bowen, J. D. (ed.). Linguistics in Oceania. De Gruyter. p. 491. doi:10.1515/9783111418827-015. ISBN 9783111054445.
There is very little published information on the language, which is not Tongan though it is said to be partly mutually intelligible with Tongan.
- ^ a b c d e Tsukamoto, Akihisa (1988). The language of Niuafoʻou Island (Thesis). The Australian National University. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ Kalino Latu (5 September 2022). "Calls for Tongan Prime Minister to allow teaching of Niuafo'ouan language in schools". Kaniva Tonga. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ a b Eberhard, David M.; Simons, Gary F.; Fennig, Charles D., eds. (2025). Ethnologue: Languages of the World (twenty-eighth ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Archived from the original on 12 October 2025.
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