Editing Carolinian language (section)

==Classification==

The Commonwealth of the [[Northern Marianas]] occupies a chain of 14 islands in the [[Pacific]], approximately 1,300 miles southeast of [[Japan]]. The total land area encompasses 183.5 square miles, and some islands are unpopulated. Most [[Carolinians]] live on [[Saipan]], the largest island, although a very small island, [[Agrigan]], is reported to be populated solely by Carolinians speaking Carolinian language.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Elameto|first1=Jesus Mareham|title=Linguistic Dimensions of Vernacular Education for Saipan Carolinians|date=1977|publisher=University of Hawaii}}</ref>

'''Carolinian,''' more usually known as [[Saipan]] Carolinian, was born from several languages in the Carolinian [[language continuum]], due to a century of migration from the western Carolinian atolls to the Northern Marianas island of Saipan. Spoken mostly by the [[Carolinian people]], Carolinian is the most closely related dialect to [[Satawalese language|Satawalese]], [[Woleaian language|Woleaian]], and [[Puluwatese language|Puluwatese]] languages. In present day, Carolinian is changing quickly due to influence from [[English language|English]], which has dominated [[Micronesia]] since World War II. There are only a small percentage of Carolinian children left on Saipan who can confidently speak the traditional form of Carolinian.<ref name="Ellis 2012" />