Iaai (hwen iaai)

Iaai is a member of the Southern Oceanic branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language family. It is spoken by about 4,000 people on the island of Ouvéa in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia, and in Nouméa, the capital of New Caledonia. It is spoken mainly by adults, and by some children.

Iaai is also known as Hwen Iaai, Iai or Yai. It is written with the Latin alphabet, and is taught in schools. There is some literature in the language, including a dictionary, grammar and a translation of the Bible.

Iaai alphabet and pronunciation

Download an alphabet chart for Iaai (Excel)

Sample text (The Lord's Prayer - Luke 11: 2-4)

Me e ame ha ködrin, ka habe, Öbun ka he ka hic, me ha thö, ka habe, Cica lö, E so e ka kap iâm. E so e o but dokhom dokhu.
Ham kohmun hnyi je bong jeû ae ûcû ka hnyi bong bi
Thang ut ta je monu gahmun; anyin a ohmun e thang minya tavat adre me okongu ohmun. Ca hum ohmun ka hnyi ûcûbic.

Source: Bible.com

Translation (English)

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Source: Bible Gateway

Sample videos in Iaai

Information about Iaai | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about Iaai
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iaai_language
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/iai
https://www2.hawaii.edu/~vanderso/Iaai.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317177662_The_phonological_history_of_Iaai
http://www.language-archives.org/language/iai

New Caledonian languages

Ajië, Caac, Cèmuhî, Drehu, Iaai, Ndrumbea, Nengone, Numèè, Nyelâyu, Paicî, Vamale, Xârâcùù

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page created: 04.10.22. Last modified: 06.06.23

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