Alternate Names: “Gupallao” (pej.), Saipan Carolinian, Southern Carolinian
Dialects: None known. Lexical similarity: 95% with Carolinian and Satawalese ,, 88% with Woleaian , and Puluwatese ,, 81% with Mortlockese ,, 78% with Chuukese ,, and 74% with Ulithian ,.
Status Notes: Statutory language of national identity (1978, Constitution, Article 22(3)), co-official with English and Chamorro.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 2,420 in Northern Mariana Islands (2000 census). Population total all countries: 2,610. 0 monolinguals.
Language Use: All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. All on Saipan also use Chamorro [cha]. Many speakers over age 50 speak it with a high level of proficiency. 100% also use English [eng].
Language Development: L1 taught, but English is language of instruction. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Newspapers. Videos. Dictionary.
Writing System: Latin
Other Comments: 1 of 3 official languages in Northern mariana Islands (with English , and Chamorro ,). Ethnic autonym: Refalúwasch, people of our islands. Christian (Roman Catholic).