Pohnpeic languages
Pohnpeic, also rendered Ponapeic, is a subgroup of the Chuukic–Pohnpeic branch of Micronesian in the Austronesian language family.[1] The languages are primarily spoken in Pohnpei State of the Federated States of Micronesia.
| Pohnpeic | |
|---|---|
| Ponapeic | |
| Geographic distribution | Micronesia |
| Linguistic classification | Austronesian
|
| Glottolog | pona1248 |
Languages
Innovations
Pohnpeic languages are distinct from the closely related Chuukic languages as a result of uniquely developed innovations. One such innovation is nasal substitution, where the first element in a consonant geminate becomes a homorganic nasal consonant.[3] An example of this change is seen where Proto Chuukic-Pohnpeic */kkaŋ/ 'sharp' became Mokilese /iŋkɔŋ/, whereas in Chuukese it is /kken/.[4]
Phonology
| Proto Oceanic | *mp | *mp,ŋp | *p | *m | *m,ŋm | *k | *ŋk | *ŋ | *y | *w | *t | *s,nj | *ns,j | *j | *nt,nd | *d,R | *l | *n | *ɲ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proto-Micronesian | *p | *pʷ | *f | *m | *mʷ | *k | *x | *ŋ | *y | *w | *t | *T | *s | *S | *Z | *c | *r | *l | *n | *ɲ |
| Proto Chuukic-Pohnpeic | *p | *pʷ | *f | *m | *mʷ | *k | *∅,r3 | *ŋ | *y | *w | *t | *j | *t | *t | *∅ | *c | *r | *l | *n | *ɲ |
| Proto-Pohnpeic | *p1 | *pʷ | *p, ∅2 | *m | *mʷ | *k | *∅,r3 | *ŋ | *y | *w | *j,∅1{_i,u,e4} | *j | *t̻ | *t̻ | *∅ | *c | *r | *l | *n | *∅,n{high V_} |
1 In the Pohnpeic languages, geminate obstruents are realized as homorganic nasal-obstruent clusters.
2 Often before /i/.
3 Before /a/.
4 The reflex is *∅ sporadically before PMc *e.
Reconstructed vocabulary
| Proto Pohnpeic | English Gloss | Modern Language Reflexes |
|---|---|---|
| *cana-k,cana-ko | be hung up, to hang up | PON tɛnɛ-k, MOK sɔnɔ |
| *palia | day after tomorrow | PON pali, MOK pali |
| *payipayi | sea urchin | PON pɛypɛy, MOK pɔypɔy |
| *wara | neck | PON wɛrɛ 'his/her neck', MOK wɔr |
References
- Lynch, John; Malcolm Ross; Terry Crowley (2002). The Oceanic languages. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon. ISBN 978-0-7007-1128-4. OCLC 48929366.
- "Ngatikese". Retrieved 2015-02-11.
- Blevins, Juliette; Garrett, Andrew (1993). "The Evolution of Ponapeic Nasal Substitution". Oceanic Linguistics. 32 (2): 199–236. doi:10.2307/3623193. JSTOR 3623193.
- Blevins, Juliette; Garrett, Andrew (1993). "The Evolution of Ponapeic Nasal Substitution". Oceanic Linguistics. 32 (2): 206. doi:10.2307/3623193. JSTOR 3623193.
- Bender, Byron W. (2003). "Proto-Micronesian Reconstructions: 1". Oceanic Linguistics. 42 (1): 4, 5. doi:10.2307/3623449. JSTOR 3623449.
- Bender, Byron W. (2003). "Proto-Micronesian Reconstructions: 2". Oceanic Linguistics. 42 (2): 282. doi:10.1353/ol.2003.0014.