Endangered Languages Project

ALSO KNOWN AS		Ske
CLASSIFICATION		Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central Vanuatu
CODE AUTHORITY		ISO 639-3
LANGUAGE CODE		ske
DOWNLOAD		As csv
MORE RESOURCES		OLAC search

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Information from: “Static spacial expression in Ske: an Oceanic language of Vanuatu” . Kay Johnson (2014)

Threatened

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
600
Native speakers worldwide
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
Based on Lynch and Crowley (2001)

DATE OF INFO: 2001

DOMAINS OF USE

SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS

TRANSMISSION

MORE ON VITALITY

Language shift is occurring in the northern and southern extremes of Seke territory where speakers are switching to Bislama and either Apma or Sa. In the sparsely populated region at the heart of Seke territory, the language is still quite strong. Even in the northern and southern extremes, children often still learn Seke.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

No real government support

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

Seke language kindergarten

OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY

Bislama
Apma
Se
English

LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS

Although a Kindergarten recently opened in the area with Seke as the language of instruction, instructers still find it necessary to use Bislama while teaching.

More on Orthography

Limited literacy.

PLACES: Vanuatu

LOCATION DESCRIPTION: Pentecost Island. In the villages of Barawet and Lonoraore.

Endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
300
Native speakers worldwide

Endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
~300
Native speakers worldwide
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
In 1983, 300 speakers were reported. The speaker numbers may not be much less now, but children are beginning not to learn Seke.

OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY
LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS: Language under pressure from Apma
More on Orthography: No literacy in language

PLACES: Pentecost Island, Vanuatu

LOCATION DESCRIPTION: Central Pentecost (Raga) Island

Endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
600
Native speakers worldwide
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
Data for the number of native speakers comes from Lynch and Crowley (2001).

PLACES: Vanuatu;

			2012	LL-MAP (Language and Location: A Map Accessibility Project)						Institute for Language Information and Technology	Eastern Michigan University	http://llmap.org	Anthony Aristar and Helen Aristar-Dry and Yichun Xie	Anthony Aristar, Helen Aristar-Dry and Yichun Xie. 2012. "LL-MAP (Language and Location: A Map Accessibility Project)." Online: http://llmap.org.																		-15.827544,168.203125
				World Oral Literature Project								http://www.oralliterature.org		"World Oral Literature Project." Online: http://www.oralliterature.org.		300		100-999							Endangered (20 percent certain, based on the evidence available)
			2014	Static spacial expression in Ske: an Oceanic language of Vanuatu							SOAS, University of London		Kay Johnson	Kay Johnson. 2014. Static spacial expression in Ske: an Oceanic language of Vanuatu. PhD dissertation, SOAS, University of London.		600	2001	100-999	Based on Lynch and Crowley (2001)	Bislama is the lingua franca, used in most interractions with speakers of other languages. English is the language of education.	Bislama, Apma, Se, English	No real government support	Although a Kindergarten recently opened in the area with Seke as the language of instruction, instructers still find it necessary to use Bislama while teaching.	Seke language kindergarten	Threatened (100 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	10	Language shift is occurring in the northern and southern extremes of Seke territory where speakers are switching to Bislama and either Apma or Sa. In the sparsely populated region at the heart of Seke territory, the language is still quite strong. Even in the northern and southern extremes, children often still learn Seke.	12	11	Vanuatu	Pentecost Island. In the villages of Barawet and Lonoraore.	-15.825, 168.169
070071197X	3	1	2007	Australia and the Pacific	Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages	424-557		Routledge	Abingdon				Stephen A Wurm	Wurm, Stephen A. 2007. Australia and the Pacific. In Christopher Moseley, Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages, 1 edn., 424-557. Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 070071197X	ll_pub	~300		100-999	In 1983, 300 speakers were reported. The speaker numbers may not be much less now, but children are beginning not to learn Seke.		Apma		Language under pressure from Apma		Endangered (20 percent certain, based on the evidence available)					Pentecost Island, Vanuatu	Central Pentecost (Raga) Island
		16	2009	Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 16th Edition (2009)			M. Paul Lewis	SIL International	Dallas, TX			http://www.ethnologue.com/		Lewis, M. Paul (ed.). 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 16 edn. http://www.ethnologue.com/home.asp. (15 February, 2011.)	ll_pub	600		100-999	Data for the number of native speakers comes from Lynch and Crowley (2001).						Endangered (20 percent certain, based on the evidence available)					Vanuatu;

Seke (Vanuatu)

Language metadata

Language information by source

Threatened

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available

600

Endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

300

Endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

~300

Endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

600

Discussion

Seke (Vanuatu)

Language metadata

Language information by source

Threatened

100 percent certain, based on the evidence available

600

Endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

300

Endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

~300

Endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

600

Discussion

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