Ontong Java language
| Ontong Java | |
|---|---|
| Luangiua | |
| Native to | Solomon Islands |
| Region | Ontong Java Atoll |
Native speakers | (2,400 cited 1999)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | ojv |
| Glottolog | onto1237 |
| ELP | Lua error in Module:Endangered_Languages_Project at line 21: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
Ontong Java is a Polynesian language spoken on the Ontong Java Atoll in Solomon Islands. Its dialects—Luangiua and Pelau—are named after the two principal inhabited islands; the name Luangiua is also commonly used to refer to the Ontong Java language as a whole.[2][3]
Ontong Java is commonly used by all speakers, young and old. There are approximately 2,370 residents[4] of Ontong Java Atoll and has an estimated 2,400 speakers living on the atoll.
Classification
[edit | edit source]Ontong Java is closely related to the Ellicean languages of Polynesia and to Sikaiana, Takuu, and Nukumanu in Papua New Guinea.[4]
Phonology
[edit | edit source]The phoneme inventory of this language is poorly studied, and many sources have conflicting phoneme inventories.[3]: 226 [5]
| Labial | Alveolar | Velar | Glottal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m | ŋ | ||
| Plosive | p | k | ʔ | |
| Fricative | v | s | h | |
| Lateral | l[note 1] |
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | i | u | |
| Mid | e | o | |
| Low | a |
An older source lists two additional vowels, /ɑ/ and /ə/.[5]
Grammar
[edit | edit source]Ontong Java word order is normally VSO[4] and SVO.[7]
Notes
[edit | edit source]- ^ This source says there is one liquid consonant (r / l), but does not specify which one.
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Ontong Java at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Materials on Ontong Java are included in the open access Arthur Capell collections (AC1 and AC2) held by Paradisec.
Further reading
[edit | edit source]- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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