Norfuk language
| Norfolk | |
|---|---|
| Norfuk, Norf'k | |
| Pronunciation | [nɔːfuk] |
| Region | Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island |
Native speakers | 2,000 (2002–2017) 6 on Lord Howe Island |
| Latin (Norfolk/Pitcairnese alphabet) | |
| Official status | |
Official language in | Norfolk Island |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | pih Pitcairn-Norfolk |
| Glottolog | pitc1234 Pitcairn-Norfolk |
| Linguasphere | 52-ABB-dd |
| IETF | pih-NF |
Percentage of people in each Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) statistical area 1 (SA1) of Norfolk Island who reported speaking Norfuk/Pitkern at home in the 2021 census.
20-25%
25-30%
30-35%
35-40%
Over 70% (Norfolk Island Airport only)
Uninhabited | |
Norfolk is classified as Definitely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. | |
Norfuk (Pitcairn-Norfolk: Norfuk) (increasingly spelt Norfolk) or Norf'k is the language spoken on Norfolk Island (in the Pacific Ocean) by the local residents. It is a blend of 18th-century English and Tahitian, originally introduced by Pitkern-speaking settlers from the Pitcairn Islands. Along with English, it is the co-official language of Norfolk Island.
Norfuk has always been a linguistic cant. As travel to and from Norfolk Island becomes more common, Norfuk is falling into disuse. However, efforts are being made in recent years to restore the language to more common usage, such as the education of children, the publication of English–Norfuk dictionaries, the use of the language in signage, and the renaming of some tourist attractions – most notably the rainforest walk "A Trip Ina Stik" – to their Norfuk equivalents. In 2007, the United Nations added Norfuk to its list of endangered languages.