Alternate Names: Ellice, Ellicean, Tuvalu
Dialects: North Tuvaluan (Nanumanga, Nanumea, Niutao), South Tuvaluan (Funafuti, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu). Not intelligible with Samoan ,. Formerly used as mission language. Intelligible of Tokelau ,. Southern dialect is official.
Status Notes: De facto language of national identity, possible use in local courts, councils.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 10,700 in Tuvalu (1998). Population total all countries: 13,080.
Language Use: Vigorous.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: High. Bible: 1987.
Spoken In: Tuvalu
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Tuvalu
Other Comments: Christian.