Marquesan, South

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A language of French Polynesia

ISO 639-3
mqm
Autonym
’Eo ’Enata
User Population

2,700 (2007 census). Ethnic population: 3,700 (2017 census).

Location

Marquesas Islands: Fatu Hiva, Fatu Huka, Hiva Oa, Mohotani, and Tahuta islands.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting). Statutory language of national identity (2004, Organic Law, No. 2004-192, Article 57).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Marquesic
Dialects

Hiva Oa, Tahuata, Fatu Hiva. Dialects listed are inherently intelligible. Wurm and Hattori (1981) list North Marquesan [mrq] and South Marquesan as 2 languages.

Language Use

Most shifting to French [fra] (Cablitz 2006).

Language Development

Taught in primary schools as subject. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 1858–1905.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Marquesan, South
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian.