Also Known As:
Pingelap, Pingilapese
Dialects & Varieties
Preverbal Particles in Pingelapese: A Language of Micronesia
Preverbal Particles in Pingelapese: A Language of Micronesia
Threatened
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
Approximately 200 speakers on Pingelap atoll; 1,200 speakers in Mwalok, Sokehs Municipality and Mand, Madolenihmw Municipality, on the high island of Pohnpei
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 2
A majority of community members speak the language. Speaker numbers are gradually decreasing.
2
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 2
Used in some non-official domains along with other languages, and remains the primary language used in the home for many community members.
2
Transmission
Transmission -1
All members of the community, including children, speak the language.
-1
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
No results found.
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
Pingelapese children on Pingelap learn Pohnpeian by the age of 10 or earlier, and learn English in high school. Children on Mokil atoll learn Mokilese simultaneously with Pingelapese, as well as Pohnpeian and English shortly thereafter. Language shift is occurring in the vocabulary, phonology, and syntax. They accommodate speakers of other languages, instead of other people switching to Pingelapese. Pohnpeians assume Pingalapese is just a dialect of their language. Pingelapese children in the US often have only a passive/receptive knowledge of their language, and respond in English.
Location and Context
Countries
Spoken primarily on Pingelap atoll and the high island of Pohnpei, two of the eastern Caroline Islands in the Federated States of Micronesia. Many Pingelapse people have moved to the United States and Guam.
Location Description
No results found.
Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
Some of the local churches have a negative attitude toward Pingelapese traditional religious customs.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Pohnpeian, Mokilese, English
Number of Other Language Speakers:
None
Domains of Other Languages:
None
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
A Pingelapese alphabet exists, but is not well known. The Pohnpeian alphabet is regularly used, but does not adequately serve Pingelapese, has several differences of phonemes, and leads to mispronunciations of names and other words. The lack of suitable orthography and literacy materials negatively influence children's learning of content as well as the Pingelapese language.
Recent Resources
Interview in English with some Pohnpeian and Pingelapese about language attitudes on Pohnpei with PD
Leilani Welley-Biza on why speaking and recording the Pingelapese language is important.