Ontong Java is a Polynesian language spoken on the Ontong Java Atoll in Solomon Islands. Its dialects—Luangiua and Pelau—are named after the two principal inhabited islands; the name Luangiua is also commonly used to refer to the Ontong Java language as a whole.
Ontong Java is commonly used by all speakers, young and old. There are approximately 2,370 residents of Ontong Java Atoll and has an estimated 2,400 speakers living on the atoll.
Classification Ontong Java is closely related to the Ellicean languages of Polynesia and to Sikaiana, Takuu, and Nukumanu in Papua New Guinea.
Phonology The phoneme inventory of this language is poorly studied, and many sources have conflicting phoneme inventories.
+Consonants Labial Alveolar Velar Glottal Nasal Plosive Fricative Lateral This source says there is one liquid consonant ( / ), but does not specify which one.
+VowelsFrontCentralBackHighMidLow
An older source lists two additional vowels, and .
Grammar Ontong Java word order is normally VSO and SVO.
Notes
References
External links Materials on Ontong Java are included in the open access Arthur Capell collections (AC1 and AC2) held by Paradisec.
Further reading