Kiribati
A language of Kiribati
| Population | 58,300 in Kiribati (1987). Population total all countries: 71,550. |
| Region | Also in Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, United States, Vanuatu. |
| Alternate names | Gilbertese, I-Kiribati, Ikiribati |
| Dialects | Banaban. North-south dialect Division. In Tuvalu, Nui inherently intelligible with Kiribati, but has vocabulary and pronunciation differences. Lexical similarity: 26% with Pohnapeian [pon]. |
| Classification | Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Ikiribati |
| Language use | National language. Vigorous. Some also use English. |
| Language development | Most are literate in Kiribati, but little material is available. Dictionary. Bible: 1893–1954. |
| Writing system | Latin script. |
| Comments | Language and speakers called ‘I-Kiribati’. VOS. Fishermen; sailors; agriculturalists; copra production. Christian. |
Also spoken in:
Fiji
| Language name | Kiribati |
| Population | 5,300 in Fiji (1988). 3,000 or more Banaban. |
| Alternate names | Gilbertese, Ikiribati |
| Dialects | Banaban. |
| Comments | Christian. |
Solomon Islands
| Language name | Kiribati |
| Population | 4,870 in Solomon Islands (1999 SIL). |
| Region | Gizo Island, 1 area; Choiseul Island, 1 area; Honiara, Guadalcanal. |
| Language map |
Solomon Islands |
| Alternate names | Gilbertese, Ikiribati |
| Comments | Relocated by the British in the 1950s from Kiribati. Christian. |
Tuvalu
| Language name | Kiribati |
| Population | 870 in Tuvalu (1987). |
| Region | Nui, a northern island. |
| Alternate names | Gilbertese, Ikiribati |
| Dialects | Nui (Nuian). |
| Language use | Vigorous. A part of Tuvalu culture. |
| Comments | Christian. |
United States
| Language name | Kiribati |
| Population | 140 in United States (2000 census). |
| Region | Hawai’i. |
| Alternate names | Gilbertese, Ikiribati |
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