Ngatikese
Classification: Austronesian
·vulnerable
-
Vulnerable
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
-
~700
-
Roughly 450 speakers on Sapwuahfik, around 200 on Pohnpei, and some elsewhere (e.g. USA)
- DATE OF INFO
- 2014
- DOMAINS OF USE
-
- SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS
-
- TRANSMISSION
-
- SPEAKER ATTITUDE
- Mostly positive, some neutral
- GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
- Local/municipal government only
- INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
- None
- OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY
-
Pohnpeian
-
English
-
Ngatik Men's Creole
- LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS
The language is used by everyone on Sapwuahfik and in local government. There is no official support of the language by the state and national governments. Speakers of Ngatikese on Pohnpei often speak Pohnpeian and slightly less frequently English when interacting with non-Ngatikese. There are little to no written materials in Ngatikese and education on Ngatik is conducted in Ngatikese for young children and English for the older children (up to 8th grade). All children must attend high school on Pohnpei where it is conducted officially in English but often unofficially in Pohnpeian. A few older men speak Ngatik Men's Creole.
- Scripts (Writing system)
- Roman-based (unofficial)
- More on Orthography
There is no official orthography, and some speakers use their own innovations.
- PLACES
- Micronesia;
- LOCATION DESCRIPTION
Sapwuahfik atoll, Pohnpei State, Federated States of Micronesia; Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia; Guam (few speakers), Hawai`I (few speakers)
- ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
On Pohnpei where there is a significant Ngatikese community, Ngatikese is only used among other Ngatikese. Most daily interactions on Pohnpei are done in Pohnpeian.