Solomon Islands

English

[eng] 1 (National). De facto national language. 271,000 in Solomon Islands, all users. L1 users: 21,000 in Solomon Islands (2019). L2 users: 250,000 (2019).

3 (Wider communication)

Pijin

[pis] 3 (Wider communication). Originated on the sugar cane plantations in Queensland, Australia between 1863 and 1906; lingua franca spoken between Kanakas (Melanesian workers) and European overseers. In 1904, at end of labor trade period, repatriated Solomon Islanders brought pidgin to the Solomon Islands. Widely spoken by majority of population. 564,000, all users. L1 users: 34,000 (2012 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 530,000 (2019).

Roviana

[rug] 3 (Wider communication). Being supplanted as lingua franca by Pijin [pis] in Western Province; now used as L2 in Western Province and as far north as Buka and Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, mainly by those over 30 years old. 25,870, all users. L1 users: 9,870 (1999 SIL). L2 users: 16,000 (1987 UBS).

4 (Educational)

Arosi

[aia] 4 (Educational). 6,750 (1999 SIL).

Sa’a

[apb] 4 (Educational). 11,500 (1999 SIL). 7,300 Sa’a, 3,300 Ulawa, and 920 Uki Ni Masi.

5 (Developing)

Cheke Holo

[mrn] 5* (Developing). 10,800 (1999 SIL), increasing. 1,500 monolinguals.

Marovo

[mvo] 5* (Developing). 8,090 (1999 SIL).

’Are’are

[alu] 5 (Developing). 17,900 (1999 SIL), increasing. Few monolinguals.

Babatana

[baa] 5 (Developing). 7,070 (1999 SIL).

Baeggu

[bvd] 5 (Developing). 5,900 (1999 SIL).

Baelelea

[bvc] 5 (Developing). 8,800 (1999 SIL).

Bauro

[bxa] 5 (Developing). 4,980 (1999 SIL).

Bilua

[blb] 5 (Developing). 9,000 (Obata 2003).

Bughotu

[bgt] 5 (Developing). 4,050 (1999 SIL).

Fataleka

[far] 5 (Developing). 6,700 (1999 SIL).

Gela

[nlg] 5 (Developing). 11,900 (1999 SIL).

Ghari

[gri] 5 (Developing). 12,100 (1999 SIL). 7,110 Ghari, 950 Gae, 3,020 Ndi, 490 Nginia, 550 Tandai-Nggaria.

Kahua

[agw] 5 (Developing). 5,170 (1999 SIL).

Kwaio

[kwd] 5 (Developing). 13,200 (1999 SIL).

Kwara’ae

[kwf] 5 (Developing). 32,400 (1999 SIL).

Lau

[llu] 5 (Developing). 16,900 (1999 SIL).

Lungga

[lga] 5 (Developing). 2,770 (1999 SIL).

Nalögo

[nlz] 5 (Developing). 1,620 (2007 census), increasing.

Natügu

[ntu] 5 (Developing). 4,280 (2007 census), increasing.

Ontong Java

[ojv] 5 (Developing). 2,370 (1999 SIL).

Owa

[stn] 5 (Developing). 8,410 (1999 SIL).

Rennell-Bellona

[mnv] 5 (Developing). 4,390 (1999 SIL).

Tikopia

[tkp] 5 (Developing). 1,800 (2012 A. François).

Varisi

[vrs] 5 (Developing). 5,160 (1999 SIL).

Wala

[lgl] 5 (Developing). 6,980 (1999 SIL).

Zabana

[kji] 5 (Developing). 3,360 (2003 SIL).

5 (Dispersed)

Kiribati

[gil] 5 (Dispersed). 6,800 in Solomon Islands (2012 J. Leclerc).

6a (Vigorous)

Äiwoo

[nfl] 6a (Vigorous). 8,400 (1999 SIL), increasing.

Amba

[utp] 6a (Vigorous). 590 (1999 SIL).

Birao

[brr] 6a (Vigorous). 5,900 (1999 SIL).

Dori’o

[dor] 6a (Vigorous). 2,410 (1999 SIL).

Duke

[nke] 6a (Vigorous). 2,310 (1999 SIL).

Gao

[gga] 6a (Vigorous). 1,220 (1999 SIL).

Ghanongga

[ghn] 6a (Vigorous). 2,510 (1999 SIL).

Gula’alaa

[gmb] 6a (Vigorous). 1,570 (1999 SIL).

Kusaghe

[ksg] 6a (Vigorous). 1,230 (Davis 2003).

Lavukaleve

[lvk] 6a (Vigorous). 1,780 (1999 SIL), decreasing.

Lengo

[lgr] 6a (Vigorous). 13,800 (1999 SIL). 13,600 Lengo and 160 Ghaimuta.

Longgu

[lgu] 6a (Vigorous). 1,500 (Hill 2002).

Malango

[mln] 6a (Vigorous). 4,140 (1999 SIL).

Mono

[mte] 6a (Vigorous). 2,940 (1999 SIL). 660 Mono, 2,270 Alu, 14 Fauro.

Noipä

[npx] 6a (Vigorous). 250 (2016 B. Boerger).

Savosavo

[svs] 6a (Vigorous). 2,420 (1999 SIL).

Simbo

[sbb] 6a (Vigorous). 2,700 (1999 SIL).

Solomon Islands Sign Language

[szs] 6a (Vigorous). 3,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 2,000–4,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.3%–0.6% of total population.

Talise

[tlr] 6a (Vigorous). 12,500 (1999 SIL). 5,940 in Talise, 2,090 in Moli, 4,490 in Koo.

To’abaita

[mlu] 6a (Vigorous). 12,600 (1999 SIL).

Touo

[tqu] 6a (Vigorous). 1,870 (1999 census).

Ughele

[uge] 6a (Vigorous). 1,200 (1999 SIL).

Vaeakau-Taumako

[piv] 6a (Vigorous). 1,660 (1999 SIL).

Vaghua

[tva] 6a (Vigorous). 1,960 (1999 SIL).

Vangunu

[mpr] 6a (Vigorous). 910 (1999 SIL). 400 Bareke, 510 Vangunu.

6b (Threatened)

Blablanga

[blp] 6b* (Threatened). 1,770 (1999 SIL).

Fagani

[faf] 6b* (Threatened). 900 (1999 SIL).

Hoava

[hoa] 6b (Threatened). 460 (1999 SIL).

Kokota

[kkk] 6b* (Threatened). 1,200 (Palmer 2009).

7 (Shifting)

Engdewu

[ngr] 7 (Shifting). 200 (Vaa 2013).

Oroha

[ora] 7 (Shifting). 38 (1999 SIL).

Teanu

[tkw] 7 (Shifting). 800 (2012 A. François).

8a (Moribund)

Sikaiana

[sky] 8a (Moribund). 730 (1999 SIL).

8b (Nearly extinct)

Anuta

[aud] 8b (Nearly extinct). 270 (1999 SIL).

Asumboa

[aua] 8b (Nearly extinct). 10 (1999 SIL).

Lovono

[vnk] 8b (Nearly extinct). 4 (2012 A. François). Old people remember a few words (Wurm 2007). Ethnic population: 120 (Wurm 2007).

Ririo

[rri] 8b (Nearly extinct). 18 (Wurm 2007).

Tanema

[tnx] 8b (Nearly extinct). 1 (2012 A. François). Ethnic population: 150 (Wurm 2007).

Tanibili

[tbe] 8b (Nearly extinct). 15 (1999 SIL).

Zazao

[jaj] 8b (Nearly extinct). 10 (1999 SIL).

10 (Extinct)

Kazukuru

[kzk] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. The last speaker shifted to Roviana [rug] in the early 20th century (Dunn and Ross 2007).

Laghu

[lgb] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. The last speaker died or shifted to Zabana [kji] in 1984 (Palmer 2009).

Unestablished

Chinese

[zho] Unestablished. 1,000 in Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands

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