| Tobian | |
|---|---|
| Ramarih Hatohobei | |
| Native to | Palau |
| Region | Hatohobei, Koror, Sonsorol |
Native speakers | 150 (2017)[1] |
Austronesian
| |
| Latin script[1] | |
| Official status | |
Official language in |  Palau |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | tox |
| Glottolog | tobi1238 |
| ELP | Tobian |
  Tobian | |
| Coordinates: 3°00′N 131°10′E / 3.00°N 131.17°E | |
| Pidgin Tobi | |
|---|---|
Native speakers | None |
Tobi-based pidgin | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | None (mis) |
| Glottolog | hora1238 |
| ELP | Tobian |
Tobian (ramarih Hatohobei, literally "the language of Tobi") is the language of Tobi, one of the Southwest Islands of Palau, and the main island of Hatohobei state. Tobian is a Micronesian language spoken by approximately 150 people, about 22 are native speakers. The speakers are located in either the island of Tobi or in Echang, a hamlet of Koror, the former capital of Palau. Tobian and Sonsorolese are very close, and appear to be gradually merging towards a new dialect called "Echangese".[2][3] Earlier in the 20th century, about 1000 people lived on the island. Shortly before and during the First World War, those numbers dropped severely due to an abundance of disease.
- ^ a b Simons, Gary F; Fennig, Charles D, eds. (2018). Ethnologue: Languages of the World (21st ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International.
- ^ White & Kirkpatrick, Geoffrey & John (1985). Person, Self, and Experience: Exploring Pacific Ethnopsychologies. Berkeley & Los Angeles, California: The Regents of the University of California. p. 266. ISBN 0-520-05280-3.
- ^ CAPELL, ARTHUR (1951). Grammar & Vocabulary of the Language of Sonsorol - Tobi. Washington: Washington Pacific Science Office, National Research Council.