Nyelâyu

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A language of New Caledonia

ISO 639-3
yly
Alternate Names
Nielaiou, Nielaiu, Nyalayu, Puma, Yalasu, Yalayu
User Population

1,960 (2009 census).

Location

North province: Belep island; mainland at Arama, Balade, and Tiari.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, New Caledonian, Northern, Extreme Northern
Dialects

Belep, Arama, Tiari-Balade.

Typology

VOS; exclusively suffixing morphology; 4 noun classes; ergativity (split-intransitive nominative-absolutive); 18 consonants and 10 vowels; alienable/inalienable possession.

Language Use

Positive attitudes.

Language Development

Taught a few hours a month at a private junior high at Pouébo. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Nyelâyu
Other Comments

Christian.