Rapa Nui

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A language of Chile

ISO 639-3
rap
Alternate Names
Easter Island, Pascuense, Rapanui
Population

2,400 in Chile (Wurm 2007). 2,200 on Easter Island; 200 to 300 on Chile mainland, Tahiti, and the United States. Population total all countries: 2,600. Ethnic population: 4,650 (2002 census).

Location

Easter Island, 3,800 km from Chile, 4,000 km from Tahiti. Also in French Polynesia, United States.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

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, Rapanui
Dialects

Lexical similarity: 64% with Hawaiian [haw], Mangareva [mrv], and Rarotongan [rar]; 63% with Marquesan [mrq]; 62% with Tahitian [tah] and Tuamotuan [pmt].

Typology

VSO

Language Use

Was vigorous, but now declining. Young generation losing interest in the language. Home, education. Also use Spanish [spa].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Revival efforts are in progress (2007). Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2003.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Rapa Nui
Writing
Latin script.