| Kiai | |
|---|---|
| Fortsenal | |
| Vara Kiai | |
| Native to | Vanuatu |
| Region | Espiritu Santo Island |
Native speakers | 450 (2001) [1] |
| Official status | |
Official language in | Vanuatu |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | frt |
| Glottolog | fort1240 |
| ELP | Kiai |
 Kiai is not endangered according to the classification system of the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger | |
Kiai is an Oceanic language spoken by about 450 people in the central highlands of Espiritu Santo island (Sanma Province), in Vanuatu. [2]
The name Kiai derives from kiai, meaning "no", due to a trend in the area to name languages based on their word for "no", used as a linguistic shibboleth. The language is called vara Kiai (from vara "speech, language"), i.e. 'the language that says kiai [for no]".
The same language has been named Fortsenal, based on the name of the village (locally Vorozenale) where the speakers live. [3]
The nine South Vanuatu languages form a family of the Southern Oceanic languages, spoken in Tafea Province of Vanuatu.
The Central Vanuatu languages form a linkage of Southern Oceanic languages spoken in central Vanuatu.
The North Vanuatu languages form a linkage of Southern Oceanic languages spoken in northern Vanuatu.
Polonombauk is a language of the interior of the southeast of Santo Island in Vanuatu.
Ande or Morouas (Moruas) is an Oceanic language spoken in central Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu.
Nokuku (Nogugu) is an Oceanic language spoken in the north of Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu.
Piamatsina is an Oceanic language spoken in the north of Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu.
Wailapa, or Ale, is an Oceanic language spoken on Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu. It is in a dialect chain between Akei and Penantsiro, but these are not mutually intelligible.
The Espiritu Santo languages are a group of North Vanuatu languages spoken on Espiritu Santo Island in northern Vanuatu. Tryon (2010) considers the Espiritu Santo languages to be a coherent group.
Dalkalaen is a Central Vanuatu language spoken by about 1,000 people on the southwestern tip of Ambrym Island, Vanuatu.
Kene is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu with 300 speakers.
Daruru is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu. There are perhaps 100 speakers in Pelmol village of western Santo Island.
Retlatur is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu. There are about 100 speakers in Tanovusivusi village of southern Santo Island.
Farnanto is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu. There are about 100 speakers in Nambauk, Tanmet, and Tafua villages of eastern Santo Island.
Fanafo is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu. It is spoken by 20 people in Vanafo and Butmas villages of eastern Santo Island.
Rutan is a Malakula language of Vanuatu.
Alovas is a Malakula language of Vanuatu.
Najit is a Malakula language of Vanuatu, spoken by less than 5 speakers.
Njav is a Malakula language of Vanuatu. There are about 10 speakers.
Bura is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu with 300 speakers.