Niuafoʻou_language

Niuafoʻou language

Niuafoʻou language

Language of Tonga's northernmost island

Niuafoʻou, or Niuafoʻouan, is the language spoken on Tonga's northernmost island, Niuafoʻou.

Quick Facts Native to, Native speakers ...
A speaker of 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.

In September 2022 language campaigners called for it to be taught in primary schools on Niuafo’ou.[3]

Phonology

The phonology of Niuafoʻou is similar to that of Tongan, with twelve consonants and five vowel phonemes.

More information Labial, Alveolar ...
More information Front, Central ...

Vowels are more centralized when unstressed. /i/ and /u/ are de-voiced under some conditions.[4]

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/.[4]

Syllable structure

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.[4]

References

  1. [1]
    Niuafoʻou at Ethnologue (19th ed., 2016) Closed access icon
  2. [2]
    Marck, Jeff (2000), Topics in Polynesian languages and culture history. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
  3. [3]
    Kalino Latu (5 September 2022). "Calls for Tongan Prime Minister to allow teaching of Niuafo'ouan language in schools". Kaniva Tonga. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  4. [4]
    Tsukamoto, Akihisa (1988). The language of Niuafoʻou Island (Thesis). The Australian National University. Retrieved 20 April 2018.


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