{"id":57999,"date":"2011-09-29T14:49:37","date_gmt":"2011-09-29T12:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sorosoro.org\/?page_id=57999"},"modified":"2011-11-17T17:09:10","modified_gmt":"2011-11-17T16:09:10","slug":"xaracuu","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sorosoro.org\/en\/xaracuu\/","title":{"rendered":"X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9"},"content":{"rendered":"

Page created in collaboration with Claire Moyse-Faurie (Research Director, LACITO-CNRS<\/a>); proofreading and additional data by St\u00e9phanie Geneix-Rabault, Annick Kasovimoin, and Weniko Ihage for the Acad\u00e9mie des Langues Kanak<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Data on the X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 language<\/h5>\n

Alternative names<\/strong>: language of Thio-Canala<\/p>\n

Area<\/strong>: New Caledonia, X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 custom area (aire coutumi\u00e8re<\/em>). X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 is spoken in the villages of Canala municipality, as well as in Thio (Thio village, Ourou\u00e9 and Thio-Mission (St-Philippo I), Ouindo, Kouar\u00e9), and La Foa municipality (villages of Ouipoin and Koind\u00e9). It is in contact with X\u00e2r\u00e2gur\u00e8<\/a> in the villages of St-Michel, St-Pierre, St-Paul, as well as with the Boulouparis tribes: Nassirah, Kouergoa, Ouitchambo et Ouinan\u00e9. X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 is spoken among members of the Koh tribe, Kouaoua municipality, and blends with T\u00eer\u00ee in the Sarram\u00e9a municipality.<\/p>\n

Dialectal variations<\/strong>: X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 is spoken over a vast and rugged area reaching across the central range from Canala to La Foa, spreading from Kouaoua to Thio along a coastline punctuated with large hills, and up to the high transverse valleys. Such geographical scattering, including enclaves that remain relatively isolated, explains the phonetic and lexical variations from one valley to another \u2013 variations that make it possible to locate the specific origins of the speakers. For instance, in spite of the \/s\/, \/\u0283\/, and \/x\/ opposition applying to the entire X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 area, a “roofing awl” is [se] in Canala and [\u0283e] in Nak\u00e9ty, while “one” is be [\u0283a:] in Canala and [xa:] in Thio.<\/p>\n

Classification<\/strong>: Like all the other Kanak languages<\/a> (except Fagauvea), X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 belongs to the distant Oceanic branch of the Austronesian family<\/a>. The Kanak languages of Grande Terre and the Loyalty Islands form their own subgroup of the Oceanic branch. And among the Kanak languages of Grande Terre, X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 belongs to the southern language group, alongside Aji\u00eb, T\u00eer\u00ee, and X\u00e2r\u00e2gur\u00e8<\/a>. X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 is quite close to X\u00e2r\u00e2gur\u00e8, and is spoken in the same custom area.<\/p>\n

Number of speakers<\/strong>: 5,729 speakers over 14 years old, according to the latest census (ISEE 2009). One third of them live outside the X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 area, mainly around Noum\u00e9a. The two remaining thirds essentially live on the East coast of Grande Terre, in the Canala and Thio municipalities. A certain number of aged people speak X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 only.<\/p>\n

Status<\/strong>: Like all Kanak languages, X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 is part of the 75 languages of France, and since the Noum\u00e9a Accord of 1998, recognized in New Caledonia as a language of education and culture. It is used as a common language in the X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 custom area.<\/p>\n

Vitality & Transmission<\/strong>: X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 is not considered endangered by UNESCO, it is one of the best-maintained Kanak languages as it is spoken in every municipality of the X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 custom area, including 90% of the population in Canala. X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 is the 4th most widely spoken Kanak language in New Caledonia, following Drehu, Nengone and Paic\u00ee. Besides the language being taught in school, X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 is used on a daily basis in most homes, thus strengthening transmission to the younger generations.<\/p>\n

The Austronesian migrations reached the Caledonian Islands some 3,300 ago. The linguistic diversification we witness today in New Caledonia developed in a context of insularity, where a form of “egalitarian bilingualism” (as described by A.-G. Haudricourt) and the will for particular identity appropriation favoured both the differentiation and the preservation of Kanak languages. Yet the teaching of French, made compulsory in every school in 1863, contributed to marginalise them \u2013 except those chosen by protestant missionaries in their enterprise of evangelisation.<\/p>\n

Script<\/strong>: The script in use today was elaborated in the 1980s by LACITO-CNRS linguists. It takes into consideration the phonological identity of the language, practical factors (using diacritics available on ordinary keyboards), and the need to harmonise notation for the different languages of Grande Terre.<\/p>\n

Media<\/strong>: A CD-ROM containing text in X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 and X\u00e2r\u00e2gur\u00e8 has been developed by the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, based on recordings made by Claire Moyse-Faurie in the 1980s. Six recordings in X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9, including verbatim and a French translation, are available on the LACITO website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In addition, the Sorosoro program went filming on X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 territory in October\/November 2010. Several short films are being produced from data collected throughout these sessions. They will available on this website from the end of September 2011, including an interview with teacher and Kanak activist Marie-Ad\u00e8le Jor\u00e9di\u00e9<\/a> on her language and the “Bb lecture” project.<\/p>\n

Literature<\/strong>: Two dictionaries have been published, one X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9\/English-English\/ X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 by G.W. Grace (1975), and the other, X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9\/French-French\/X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 by C. Moyse-Faurie and M.-A. N\u00e9ch\u00e9r\u00f6-Jor\u00e9di\u00e9 (1986, 2nd ed. 1989). A grammar textbook (Moyse-Faurie) was published in 1995, as well as several linguistic articles; oral tradition texts appear scattered over various publications. Based on this grammar, a school textbook has been developed by Andr\u00e9 Ba Duong Nguyen in collaboration with retired educator Kamilo Ipere, and published by the Kanak Culture Development Agency in 2007.<\/p>\n

Education<\/strong>: In March 1985, under the pressure of the pro-independence parties, a “Kanak popular school” (EPK – \u00c9cole Populaire Kanak) was created in Canala, where the entire education from kindergarten to the end of primary school was delivered “in language”, with French taught as a second language. The EPKs ran until the beginning of the 2000s, and eventually shut down. Nowadays X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 is also part of the programs at the Canala and Thio junior high schools, although the language still hasn\u2019t been approved as a relevant option for Baccalaur\u00e9at, the French secondary school certificate.<\/p>\n

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Sociolinguistic details<\/h5>\n

On a linguistic level, the X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 custom area is not homogeneous. While it does count the highest number of speakers, while it is widely used as a common language by the local Kanak population, X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 isn\u2019t everyone\u2019s language. Some 300 people speak Ham\u00e9a (language of M\u00e9a), essentially in the tribes living across the ranges above Kouaoua, in Konoye, W\u00e9rupim\u00e9, and W\u00e2\u00e2be (M\u00e9chin), in Facha, and in a few families in M\u00e9a M\u00e9bara. People speak Aji\u00eb (Houa\u00eflou) from M\u00e9a M\u00e9bara to Kouaoua, and in Ceynon; T\u00eer\u00ee from Couli to Sarram\u00e9a (c.a. 500 speakers); X\u00e2r\u00e2gur\u00e8 in Thio-Mission (Saint Philippo II), partly in Saint-Michel, Saint-Paul, and Saint-Pierre, and in every village located on the coast between Thio and the N’Goye river (c.a. 500 speakers); in W\u00ee\u00een\u00e2r\u00ee (Ouinan\u00e9), the adults are X\u00e2r\u00e2gur\u00e8\/Drubea bilinguals, the younger generation mostly speaks French. Everywhere else, people speak X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9.<\/p>\n

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Linguistic details<\/h5>\n

X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 is one of the best-documented Kanak languages of Grande Terre. Its phonology is quite rich, with 26 consonants and 34 long and short vowels. The syllabic structure of X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 does not allow any succession of consonants, or final consonants. Stress is demarcative: it applies to the first mora of three-and-above mora units, or to the first two moras of units exceeding three moras. X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 is a “stress-bearing morpheme” language, with morphemes linked together though a coupling process (Rivierre, 1978). Derivation and composition processes are rich and complex; they form the main body of X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 morphology. The word order is generally in SVO. Subjects can be thrown back after verbs, however, and in that case they are introduced by agentive prepositions. While X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 is an omni-predicative language, it does show a verb-noun opposition quite marked by very distinct nominal and verbal contexts. X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 also includes specific numeral classifiers (yams, fish, long objects, plants). The numbering system is both quinary and vigesimal.<\/p>\n

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Bibliography<\/h5>\n

Grace George William, 1975, English-Canala Dictionary<\/em>, Canberra, Australian National University, Pacific Linguistics, B-26.<\/p>\n

\u20141986, Hypotheses about the phonological history of the language of Canala<\/em>. New Caledonia, Te Reo 29, pp. 55-67.<\/p>\n

Haudricourt A.-G. et al., 1979, Les langues m\u00e9lan\u00e9siennes de Nouvelle-Cal\u00e9donie<\/em>, Noum\u00e9a, Publication de la D.E.C. coll. Eveil n\u00b013.<\/p>\n

Moyse-Faurie Claire, 1989, Structures actancielles et classes verbales en x\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9<\/em>, Actances 4, pp. 99-125.<\/p>\n

\u20141991a, “Relational morphemes and a transitivising suffix in X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 (New Caledonia)”, in R. Blust (\u00e9d.), Currents in ethnolinguistica in honour of George W. Grace<\/em>, Canberra, Australian National University, Pacific Linguistics, C-117, pp. 305-320.<\/p>\n

\u20141991b, “La langue x\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 (Nouvelle-Cal\u00e9donie)”, in D. Tryon (ed.), Comparative Austronesian Dictionary <\/em>(in three parts), Berlin, Mouton de Gruyter.<\/p>\n

\u20141995, Le x\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9. Langue de Thio-Canala (Nouvelle-Cal\u00e9donie). El\u00e9ments de syntaxe<\/em>. Paris, Peeters, lcp 10.<\/p>\n

\u20141998, Relations actancielles et aspects en drehu et en x\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9<\/em>, Actances 9, pp. 135-145.<\/p>\n

\u20142011, “X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9”, in Bonvini, Emilio, Jo\u00eblle Busuttil et Alain Peyraube (dir.), Dictionnaire des langues<\/em>, PUF, 1220-1229.<\/p>\n

Moyse-Faurie Claire et Marie-Ad\u00e8le N\u00e9ch\u00e9r\u00f6-Jor\u00e9di\u00e9, 1989 (2e \u00e9d), Dictionnaire x\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9-fran\u00e7ais (Nouvelle-cal\u00e9donie)<\/em>, Noum\u00e9a, Edipop.<\/p>\n

N\u00e9ch\u00e9r\u00f6-Jor\u00e9di\u00e9 Marie-Ad\u00e8le, 1988, “A Kanak People’s School (interview)”, in M. Spencer, A. Ward et J. Connell (eds), New Caledonia. Essays in nationalism and dependency<\/em>, St Lucia, University of Queensland Press, pp. 198-218.<\/p>\n

Nguyen Ba Duong, Andr\u00e9 et Kamilo Ip\u00e9r\u00e9. 2007. Apprendre le x\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9, langue de Thio-Canala (Nouvelle-Cal\u00e9donie). Aprroche linguistique<\/em>. Noum\u00e9a, Agence de D\u00e9veloppement de la Culture Kanak.<\/p>\n

Nguyen Ba Duong, Andr\u00e9, Kamilo Ip\u00e9r\u00e9 et Marcel At\u00e9, 2001. Contes et l\u00e9gendes en X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 : langue de Thio-Canala (Nouvelle-Cal\u00e9donie)<\/em>, Mairie de Canala.<\/p>\n

Rivierre Jean-Claude, 1978, “Accents, tons et inversion tonale en Nouvelle-Cal\u00e9donie”, Bulletin de la Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 de Linguistique de Paris<\/em>, t. 73, fasc. 1, pp. 415-443.<\/p>\n

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A few links for further information<\/h5>\n

Acad\u00e9mie des Langues Kanak website<\/a><\/p>\n

Acad\u00e9mie des langues Kanak, pages on <\/a>X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9<\/a><\/p>\n

DGLFLF <\/a>Corpus de la parole <\/a><\/em>website<\/a>: text corpus in 13 Kanak languages (Drehu, Aji\u00eb, Bwatoo, C\u00e8muh\u00ee, Fagauvea, Iaai, N\u00e2\u00e2 Kw\u00e9ny\u00ef, N\u00eal\u00eamwa, Nemi, Nengone, X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9, X\u00e2r\u00e2gur\u00e8, Yuanga), Wallisian and Futunan.<\/p>\n

DGLFLF<\/a> <\/a>Corpus de la parole<\/a><\/em> webpages on X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9<\/a><\/p>\n

Kanak Culture Development Agency \u2013 Tjibaou Cultural Centre<\/a>: media library members have online access to numerous text corpora in Kanak languages.<\/p>\n

CDP-NC website<\/a>: Languages and Cultures in New Caledonia section.<\/p>\n

LACITO (“Oral tradition languages and civilisations laboratory”) and CNRS<\/a>: Oceanic corpus<\/p>\n

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Page created in collaboration with Claire Moyse-Faurie (Research Director, LACITO-CNRS); proofreading and additional data by St\u00e9phanie Geneix-Rabault, Annick Kasovimoin, and Weniko Ihage for the Acad\u00e9mie des Langues Kanak. Data on the X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 language Alternative names: language of Thio-Canala Area: New Caledonia, X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 custom area (aire coutumi\u00e8re). X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 is spoken in the villages of Canala municipality, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-57999","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nX\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 - Sorosoro<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sorosoro.org\/en\/xaracuu\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 - Sorosoro\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Page created in collaboration with Claire Moyse-Faurie (Research Director, LACITO-CNRS); proofreading and additional data by St\u00e9phanie Geneix-Rabault, Annick Kasovimoin, and Weniko Ihage for the Acad\u00e9mie des Langues Kanak. Data on the X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 language Alternative names: language of Thio-Canala Area: New Caledonia, X\u00e2r\u00e2c\u00f9\u00f9 custom area (aire coutumi\u00e8re). 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