Niuatoputapu language

Niuatoputapu
Lea Faka-Niuatoputapu
Native to	Tonga
Extinct	19th century
Language family	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Oceanic Polynesian Samoan–Tokelauan ? Niuatoputapu
Writing system	Latin script
Language codes
ISO 639-3	nkp
Linguist List	nkp
Glottolog	niua1241
Niuatoputapu is classified as Extinct by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
Map of Niuatoputapu and Tafahi islands, where the language was spoken

The Niuatoputapu languague (Tongan: Lea Faka-Niuatoputapu) was the indigenous language of Niuatoputapu, Tonga and possibly Tafahi, Tonga due to it's close proximity. Sometime between the 18th to 19th century, it became extinct and its use was replaced by modern Tongan (Tongan: Lea Faka-Tonga), although remnants of the old Niuatoputapu language can still be seen in the islands' geographic features. For example, the islet of Nukuseilala (Land of the Seilala Tree) appears to use the old Niuatoputapu and modern Samoan pronunciation of "seilala" instead of the modern Tongan "heilala".

The Niuatoputapu language is believed to have been very distinct from the modern Tongan and Niuafoʻou languages, being closely related instead to Samoan, East Futunan, Tokelauan, Tuvaluan and Pukapukan.

Practically all knowledge of the Niuatoputapu language comes from a word list of 32 words compiled by Jacob Le Maire in 1616 after visits to both Niuatoputapu and Tafahi.

Vocabulary

Key / Legend
=	same as
?	unknown

Le Maire's Worldist with Translations

Early Modern Dutch	Modern Dutch	Transliteration of Niuatoputapu Words	Possible Niuatoputapu Interpretations	English
jaa	ja	da; ijto	io	yes
viſch, visch	vis	ica	ika	fish
vercken	varken	vvacka	vuaka; puaka	pig
hoen; kiecke	hoen; kuiken	omo	moa	chicken; fowl
vrouwe	vrouw	herri	fine; hine; fafine	woman; girl
viſhouck, vishouck	vishaak	matau	mātau; matau	fishhook
yser	ijzer	hakoubea	ukamea
coralen	kralen	licaſoa; acachoa	kasoa	beads; made of beads; necklace
die	de	li	le	the
en	een	tacij, taci	tasi	one
twee	=	loua, loa	lua	two
drie	=	tolou	tolu	three
vier	=	fa	fā	four
vijf	=	lima	lima	five
thien	=	ougefoula	agafulu; ogofulu	ten
gaet wech	gaan	fanou	fano	to go
sieck	ziek	mataij	mate	sick, ill, dead
obos, oubeswortel	?	oufij, oubi	ufi	yam
banannas	bananen	vvafoudgy	futi; fuafuti	bananas
cocos noten	kokosnoot	alieuw	niu	coconut
jonghe cocos	jonge kokosnoot	d'mauta	mata; niu mata; niu mātū	young coconut
wech; door	weg; door	alick-wi	ala ki	the way to; through
"Geeft my mijn obos"	"Geef mij mijn obos"	"Toma may oufi"	Taumai / aumai / omai ufi?	Give me the/my "obos"