Ontong Java (or Luangiua, Lord Howe, Luaniua) is a Polynesian language located on the Ontong Java Atoll, also known as the Luangiua Atoll or Lord Howe island, in the Solomon Islands. Two dialects, Luangiua and Pelau, are also spoken on the island. Ontong Java is commonly used by all speakers, young and old. There is approximately 2,370 residents[2] of Ontong Java Atoll and has approximately 2,400 (estimated) speakers living on the atoll.
Ontong Java | |
---|---|
Luangiua | |
Native to | Solomon Islands |
Region | Ontong Java Atoll |
Native speakers | (2,400 cited 1999)[1] |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | ojv |
Glottolog | onto1237 |
Ontong Java is closely related to the Ellicean languages of Polynesia and to Sikaiana, Takuu, and Nukumanu in Papua New Guinea.[2]
The phoneme inventory of this language is poorly studied, and many sources have conflicting phoneme inventories.[3]: 226 [4]
Labial | Alveolar | Velar | Glottal | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nasal | m | ŋ | ||
Plosive | p | k | ʔ | |
Fricative | v | s | h | |
Lateral | l[note 1] |
Front | Central | Back | |
---|---|---|---|
High | i | u | |
Mid | e | o | |
Low | a |
An older source lists two additional vowels, /ɑ/ and /ə/.[4]
Ontong Java word order is normally VSO[2] and SVO.[6]