Niuafoʻou language

{{Short description|Language of Tonga's northernmost island}}

{{Infobox language

|name=Niuafoʻou

|nativename=Ko te lea faka Niuafoʻou

|states=Tonga

|speakers=500

|date=2015

|ref=e19

|familycolor=Austronesian

|fam2=Malayo-Polynesian

|fam3=Oceanic

|fam4=Polynesian

|fam5=Tongic?

|iso3=num

|glotto=niua1240

|glottorefname=Niuafo'ou

|map = Lang Status 99-NE.svg

|mapcaption = {{center|{{small|Niuafoʻou is not endangered according to the classification system of the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger}}}}

}}

File:WIKITONGUES- Nicholas speaking Niuafo’ou.webm

Niuafo{{okina}}ou, or Niuafoʻouan, is the language spoken on Tonga's northernmost island, Niuafo{{okina}}ou.

Niuafoʻouan has traditionally been classified as closest to {{okina}}Uvean and Tokelauan, in an East Uvean–Niuafoʻou branch. However, recent researchMarck, Jeff (2000), Topics in Polynesian languages and culture history. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. suggests that it is closest to its neighbour, Tongan, as one of the Tongic languages.

In September 2022 language campaigners called for it to be taught in primary schools on Niuafo’ou.{{cite web |url=https://www.kanivatonga.co.nz/2022/09/calls-for-tongan-prime-minister-to-allow-teaching-of-niuafoouan-language-in-schools/ |title=Calls for Tongan Prime Minister to allow teaching of Niuafo'ouan language in schools |publisher=Kaniva Tonga |author=Kalino Latu |date=5 September 2022 |access-date=8 September 2022}}