New Caledonian languages
The thirty New Caledonian languages form a branch of the Southern Oceanic languages. Their speakers are known as Kanaks. One language is extinct, one is critically endangered, 4 are severely endangered, 5 are endangered, and another 5 are vulnerable to extinction.Typology
The Cèmuhî, Paicî, Drubea, Numèè, and Kwenyii languages are tonal.
Other than phonemically contrastive tone, typological features in New Caledonian languages that are typically unusual for Oceanic languages include nasalized vowels, very large vowel inventories, retroflex consonants, and voiceless nasals.Languages
- Loyalty Islands
- *Drehu
- *Iaai
- *Nengone
- New Caledonian
- *Southern New Caledonian
- **Extreme Southern
- ***Ndrumbea
- ***Numèè
- **South Southern
- ***Xaracuu–Xaragure:
- ***Xârâcùù
- ***Xârâgurè
- ***Zire–Tiri:
- ***Tîrî
- ***Zire †
- ***Wailic
- ****Ajië
- ****Arhö
- ****Arhâ
- ****Neku
- ****Orowe
- *Northern New Caledonian
- **Vamale*
- **Haveke*
- **Haeke*
- **Central Northern
- ***Cèmuhî
- ***Paicî
- **North Northern
- ***Pwaamei
- ***Pwapwa
- ****Bwatoo
- ****Hmwaveke
- ****Waamwang
- ****Fwâi
- ****Jawe
- ****Nemi
- ****Pije
- **Extreme Northern
- ***Caac
- ***Kumak
- ***Yuanga
- ***Nyâlayu
The languages of the northern Voh–Koné area are often discussed as a unit.List of New Caledonian languages
