Ontong Java language
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. Ontong Java is commonly used by all speakers, young and old. There are approximately 2,370 residents of Ontong Java Atoll and has an estimated 2,400 speakers living on the atoll.
| 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 |
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]Ontong Java is closely related to the Ellicean languages of Polynesia and to Sikaiana, Takuu, and Nukumanu in Papua New Guinea.[4]
Phonology
[edit]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]Ontong Java word order is normally VSO[4] and SVO.[7]
Notes
[edit]- ^ This source says there is one liquid consonant (r / l), but does not specify which one.
References
[edit]- ^ Ontong Java at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
- ^ "Luangiua". Glottolog. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ a b c d Salmond, Anne (1974). A Generative Syntax of Luangiua: A Polynesian Language. The Hague, Netherlands: Mouton & Co. NV. pp. 256.
- ^ a b c "Ontong Java". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
- ^ a b Lanyon-Orgill, Peter A. (1944). A Study of the Leuangiua Language. The Hague, Netherlands: Luzac & Co. p. 24.
- ^ Krupa, Viktor (1973). Polynesian Languages: A Survey of Research. The Hague, Netherlands: Mouton & Co. NV. pp. 108.
- ^ Tomlin, Russell S. (2014-02-03). Basic Word Order (RLE Linguistics B: Grammar): Functional Principles. Routledge. ISBN 9781317933793.
- Mugler, France; Lynch, John (1996). Pacific Languages in Education. editorips@usp.ac.fj. ISBN 9789820201231.
External links
[edit]- Materials on Ontong Java are included in the open access Arthur Capell collections (AC1 and AC2) held by Paradisec.
Further reading
[edit]- Thorpe, Mary Anne (1968). A Transformational-generative Syntax of Luangiua (Thesis). University of Auckland.
- Hogbin, H. I. B. (1930). "Notes on a grammar of the language of Ontong Java". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 5 (4): 823–853. doi:10.1017/S0041977X00090534.
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