Pohnpeic languages

Pohnpeic
Ponapeic
Geographic
distribution		Micronesia
Linguistic classificationAustronesian
Language codes
Glottologpona1248
Map of the Micronesian languages; Pohnpeic languages are shaded in pink, while the Chuukic languages are red.

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.

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-Pohnpeic reflexes of Proto-Oceanic consonants[5]
Proto-Oceanic *p *t *k *s, *nj *ns, *j *j *mp *mp, *ŋp *nt, *nd *ŋk *m *m, *ŋm *n *ɲ *ŋ *w *y *d,R *l
Proto-Micronesian *f *t *k *T *s *S *Z *p *pʷ *c *x *m *mʷ *n *ɲ *ŋ *w *y *r *l
Proto-Chuukic-Pohnpeic *f *t *k *j *t *t *∅ *p *pʷ *c *∅,r3 *m *mʷ *n *ɲ *ŋ *w *y *r *l
Proto-Pohnpeic *p, ∅2 *j,∅1{_i,u,e4} *k *j *t̻ *t̻ *∅ *p1 *pʷ *c *∅,r3 *m *mʷ *n *∅,n{high V_} *ŋ *w *y *r *l

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

Reconstructed Proto-Pohnpeic Vocabulary [6]
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

  1. ^ Lynch, John; Malcolm Ross; Terry Crowley (2002). The Oceanic languages. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon. ISBN 978-0-7007-1128-4. OCLC 48929366.
  2. ^ "Ngatikese". Retrieved 2015-02-11.
  3. ^ Blevins, Juliette; Garrett, Andrew (1993). "The Evolution of Ponapeic Nasal Substitution". Oceanic Linguistics. 32 (2): 199–236. doi:10.2307/3623193. JSTOR 3623193.
  4. ^ Blevins, Juliette; Garrett, Andrew (1993). "The Evolution of Ponapeic Nasal Substitution". Oceanic Linguistics. 32 (2): 206. doi:10.2307/3623193. JSTOR 3623193.
  5. ^ Bender, Byron W. (2003). "Proto-Micronesian Reconstructions: 1". Oceanic Linguistics. 42 (1): 4, 5. doi:10.2307/3623449. JSTOR 3623449.
  6. ^ Bender, Byron W. (2003). "Proto-Micronesian Reconstructions: 2". Oceanic Linguistics. 42 (2): 282. doi:10.1353/ol.2003.0014.


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