Endangered Languages Project

ALSO KNOWN AS		Ramari Hatohobei, Hatohobeian, Tobi, Hatohobei
CLASSIFICATION		Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Micronesian
CODE AUTHORITY		ISO 639-3
LANGUAGE CODE		tox
DOWNLOAD		As csv
MORE RESOURCES		OLAC search

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Information from: “Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 16th Edition (2009)” . M. Paul Lewis · SIL International

Severely endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
22
Native speakers worldwide
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
Speaker number data: (1995 SIL)

OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY
LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS: Official language in state of Tobi

PLACES: Palau;

LOCATION DESCRIPTION: Tobi (Hatohobei) Island and near the capitol

Threatened

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

DOMAINS OF USE

SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS

TRANSMISSION

MORE ON VITALITY

"Eight of the respondents feel that Tobian will soon disappear and nine will be bothered if it does disappear (no one replied that they would not be bothered).

The changes in the Tobian language were said to be also a result of the young people who commonly speak Sonsorolese and Echangese and then are unable to understand their Tobian elders. Change is thought as well to come from people moving away from Tobi and from Echang.
Almost half the respondents feel that the ability to speak Palauan and/or English is necessary for success in Palau."

OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY

Sonsorolese
Echangese
Palauan
English

LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS

"Most respondents reported commonly using more than one language at a time. Tobian was commonly used at home and in the neighborhood and with children, elders, and siblings."

Endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
~22 speakers on Tobi island, 150 speakers total (including the population in the capital as well as on Tobi island)
Native speakers worldwide

LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS: Tobi island has a population of about 30. There is also a mixed Sonsoral/Tobian-speaking community in part of the capital.

Severely endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
10-99
Native speakers worldwide
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
22 or more speakers reported in 1995

More on Orthography: No literacy in the language

PLACES: Tobi Island, Palau

Severely endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
22
Native speakers worldwide

Severely endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
22
Native speakers worldwide

		2021	Personal communication regarding Tobian (ramarih Hatohobei)						The University of Newcastle		Bill Palmer			~22 speakers on Tobi island, 150 speakers total (including the population in the capital as well as on Tobi island)	100-999				Tobi island has a population of about 30. There is also a mixed Sonsoral/Tobian-speaking community in part of the capital.	Endangered (20 percent certain, based on the evidence available)
	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	22	10-99	Speaker number data: (1995 SIL)		Palauan	Official language in state of Tobi	Severely Endangered (20 percent certain, based on the evidence available)					Palau;	Tobi (Hatohobei) Island and near the capitol
	3rd	2010	Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger				UNESCO Publishing	Paris		http://www.unesco.org/culture/en/endangeredlanguages/atlas	Christopher Moseley (ed.)	Moseley, Christopher (ed.). 2010. Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger, 3rd edn. http://www.unesco.org/culture/en/endangeredlanguages/atlas. (03 June, 2011.)	ll_pub	22	10-99					Severely Endangered (20 percent certain, based on the evidence available)							2.9594,131.8084
February		2009	Tobian Language Use Survey								Black, Barbara; Black, Peter						Paluan & English: School, church, work	Sonsorolese, Echangese, Palauan, English	"Most respondents reported commonly using more than one language at a time. Tobian was commonly used at home and in the neighborhood and with children, elders, and siblings."	Threatened (80 percent certain, based on the evidence available)	11	"Eight of the respondents feel that Tobian will soon disappear and nine will be bothered if it does disappear (no one replied that they would not be bothered). The changes in the Tobian language were said to be also a result of the young people who commonly speak Sonsorolese and Echangese and then are unable to understand their Tobian elders. Change is thought as well to come from people moving away from Tobi and from Echang. Almost half the respondents feel that the ability to speak Palauan and/or English is necessary for success in Palau."	13	11
			World Oral Literature Project							http://www.oralliterature.org		"World Oral Literature Project." Online: http://www.oralliterature.org.		22	10-99					Severely Endangered (20 percent certain, based on the evidence available)
		2007	Australasia and the Pacific	Atlas of the World's Endangered Languages	425-578	C. Moseley	London & New York: Routledge				Stephen A. Wurm	Wurm, Stephen A. 2007. "Australasia and the Pacific." In Atlas of the World's Endangered Languages, edited by C. Moseley. 425-578. London & New York: Routledge.	HHOLD		10-99	22 or more speakers reported in 1995				Severely Endangered (20 percent certain, based on the evidence available)					Tobi Island, Palau

Tobian

Language metadata

Language information by source

Severely endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

22

Threatened

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

Endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

~22 speakers on Tobi island, 150 speakers total (including the population in the capital as well as on Tobi island)

Severely endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

10-99

Severely endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

22

Severely endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

22

Discussion

Tobian

Language metadata

Language information by source

Severely endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

22

Threatened

80 percent certain, based on the evidence available

Endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

~22 speakers on Tobi island, 150 speakers total (including the population in the capital as well as on Tobi island)

Severely endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

10-99

Severely endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

22

Severely endangered

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

22

Discussion

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