Carolinian

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A language of Northern Mariana Islands

ISO 639-3
cal
Alternate Names
Saipan Carolinian, Southern Carolinian, “Gupallao” (pej.)
Autonym
Refalúwasch
User Population

2,420 (2000 census). No monolinguals.

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational). Statutory language of national identity (1978, Constitution, Article 22(3)), co-official with English [eng] and Chamorro [cha].

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Pohnpeic-Chuukic, Chuukic
Dialects

None known. Lexical similarity: 95% with Satawalese [stw], 88% with Woleaian [woe] and Puluwatese [puw], 81% with Mortlockese [mrl], 78% with Chuukese [chk], and 74% with Ulithian [uli].

Language Use

All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. All also use Chamorro [cha], on Saipan; many speakers over age 50 speak it with a high level of proficiency. All also use English [eng].

Language Development

L1 taught, but English is language of instruction. Taught as subject in primary and secondary schools. Literature. Newspapers. Videos. Dictionary. Texts.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Carolinian
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

1 of 3 official languages in Northern Mariana Islands (with English [eng] and Chamorro [cha]). Christian.