Norfuk language
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.
| Norfolk | |
|---|---|
| Norfuk, Norf'k | |
| Pronunciation | [nɔːfuk] |
| Region | Norfolk Island |
Native speakers | 2,000 (2002–2017) 6 on Lord Howe Island |
| Latin | |
| 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 |
Norfuk is classified as Vulnerable by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger | |
Norfuk has always been a linguistic cant. As travel to and from Norfolk Island becomes more common, Norfuk is falling into disuse. Efforts are being made 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.