Marquesan, North

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A language of French Polynesia

ISO 639-3
mrq
Alternate Names
’Eo ’Enana
Population

5,390 in French Polynesia (2007 census). Population total all countries: 6,000. Ethnic population: 5,400.

Location

Marquesas Islands: Nuku Hiva, Ua Huka, Ua Pou islands. Also in United States.

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

Hatutu, Nuku Hiva, Ua Huka, Ua Pou. Wurm and Hattori (1981) list North Marquesan and South Marquesan [mqm] as 2 languages. North Marquesan dialects all inherently intelligible. 50% intelligibility of Tahitian [tah]. Lexical similarity: 45%–67% with Tahitian [tah], 73% with Mangareva [mrv] and Rarotonga [rar], 70% with Hawaiian [haw], 29% with Tuamotuan [pmt].

Language Development
Taught in primary schools. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1995.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Marquesan, North
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Christian.