User:Chainausten/sandbox

Norfuk became a co-official language of Norfolk Island in 2004

Norfuk is a language that is heavily embedded in the ecologically of Norfolk Island. Many words are created for specific animals or plants on the island and the way in which these things are named is very unique to the Island of Norfolk. For example many fish that are indigenous to the island were named either by the people who caught them or whom received them when dividing the catch. One such instance is the naming of the fish Sandford which received its name by a man named Sandford Warren after receiving the fish in his share. This fish is known in the community as a Sandford.

It was noted in 1970's by the Norfolk community and specialist from mainland Australia noted that the Norfuk language was falling into decline and talks about how to implement Norfolk into the school system were underway. At this point in time Norfuk did not have a standardized writing system and was mostly an oral language. Several other individuals and groups took it upon themselves to help craft the necessary tools to help promote the Norfolk language. One of the first noted instances in which Norfolk was being taught in schools was in the 1980’s, by Faye Bataille. Additionally the Society of the Descendants of Pitcairn Islanders was founded in 1977 and they proved to be a large driving force for the campaign to include Norfuk language as a teachable subject in schools.

The first Norfolk dictionary was compiled in 1986 by Beryl Nobbs-Palmer. It was titled “A Dictionary of Norfolk words and usages” and contained examples of words in the Norfuk language and how to use them.

The book “Speak Norfuk Today” was written by Alice Buffett and Dr.Donald Laycock. It is an encyclopedia incorporating a large majority of the information about the Norfuk language and was one of the first instances in which the orthography of Norfuk was documented.

Norfolk language is ordered in subject verb object

Norfolk language has roughly 800 speakers