Niuafoʻou language
| Niuafoʻou | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Tonga |
Native speakers | 500 (2015)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | num |
| Glottolog | niua1240 |
Niuafoʻou, or Niuafoʻouan, is the language spoken on Tonga's northernmost island, Niuafoʻou.
Niuafoʻouan has traditionally been classified as closest to ʻUvean and Tokelauan, in an East Uvean–Niuafoʻou branch. However, recent research[2] suggests that it is closest to its neighbour, Tongan, as one of the Tongic languages.
Phonology[edit]
The phonology of Niuafoʻou is similar to that of Tongan, with twelve consonants and five vowel phonemes.
| Labial | Alveolar | Velar | Glottal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal | m | n | ŋ | |
| Plosive | p | t | k | ʔ |
| Fricative | f v | s | h | |
| Lateral | l |
| Front | Central | Back | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | i | u | |
| Mid | e | o | |
| Low | a |
Vowels are more centralized when unstressed. /i/ and /u/ are de-voiced under some conditions.[3]
Sometimes the phoneme /t/ is realized as a apico-alveolar flap (/ɾ/). /h/ is only realized as /h/ at the beginning of words. In the middle of words, it is either /ɦ/ or /x/.[3]
Syllable structure[edit]
Niuafoʻou has a very simple syllable structure, (C)V. However, it is apparently transitioning towards allowing consonant clusters, due to the influence of foreign languages and the de-voicing of vowels.[3]
References[edit]
- ^ Niuafoʻou at Ethnologue (19th ed., 2016)
- ^ Marck, Jeff (2000), Topics in Polynesian languages and culture history. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
- ^ a b c d e Tsukamoto, Akihisa (1988). The language of Niuafoʻou Island (Thesis). The Australian National University. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
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