Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Micronesian languages

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Geographicdistribution
  
Glottolog
  
micr1243

Micronesian languages

Linguistic classification
  
AustronesianMalayo-PolynesianOceanicCentral–EasternMicronesian

Subdivisions
  
Micronesian ProperNauruan

The twenty Micronesian languages form a family of Oceanic languages. Micronesian languages are known for their lack of plain labial consonants; they have instead two series, palatalized and labio-velarized labials.

Components

According to Jackson 1983, 1986, the languages group as follows:

  • Nauruan
  • Nuclear Micronesian family
  • Kosraean
  • Central Micronesian family
  • Kiribati
  • Western Micronesian family
  • Marshallese
  • Trukic–Ponapeic family
  • Trukic (Chuukic)
  • Ponapeic (Pohnpeic)
  • The family appears to have originated in the east, likely on Kosrae, and spread westwards. Kosrae appears to have been settled from the south, in the region of northern Vanuatu.

    References

    Micronesian languages Wikipedia


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