Also Known As:
Moenebeng, Neukaledonien, Caawac, Mwelebeng
Dialects & Varieties
- Pouébo
- La Conception (St. Louis)
A study of space in Caac, an Oceanic language spoken in the north of New Caledonia
Cauchard, A. (2015). A study of space in Caac, an Oceanic language spoken in the north of New Caledonia.
University of Manchester.
Threatened
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
2,215
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 3
Only about half of community members speak the language. Speaker numbers are decreasing steadily, but not at an accelerated pace.
3
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 3
Used mainly in the home and/or with family, but remains the primary language of these domains for many community members.
3
Transmission
Transmission 1
Most adults in the community, and some children, are speakers.
1
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
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Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
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Elders
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Ethnic or community population
99,100
Year information was gathered
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Comments on speakers
Children who attend school in the south speak French more easily than Caac. Children attending school in Pouebo in the 1980s-90s were able to study Caac in classes, but no longer.
Location and Context
Countries
Most Caac speakers live in Pweevo (Puebo) and Noumea, in the customary area of Hoot ma Waap, on the northeastern coast of New Caledonia. This area corresponds with the old Mwelebeng chiefdom.
Location Description
No results found.
Government Support
1998 Noumea Accords officialy recognized Caac as a language of culture and education
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
Kanak peoples are typically multilingual. Mwelebeng adults often downplay their own language proficiency and disregard the way the youth speak the language. French, the lingua franca, is given precedence in education, work, media, public services, and more.
Other Languages Used By The Community
French
Number of Other Language Speakers:
None
Domains of Other Languages:
None
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
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Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
No results found.
Recent Resources
Informative message
No results found.