Micronesian languages

Micronesian languages
Micronesian
Geographic
distribution:		 Micronesia
Linguistic classification: Austronesian
Subdivisions:
Micronesian Proper
Nauru
Oceanic languages.svg
  Micronesian

The family of Micronesian languages is a branch of the Oceanic languages. It consists of twenty languages, the nineteen Micronesian Proper languages and Nauruan. Micronesian languages are known for their lack of plain labial consonants; they have instead two series, palatalized and labio-velarized labials.

Components

According to a 2008 analysis of the Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database,[1] the Micronesian languages group as follows:

The analysis gives a 75% probability that Kosraean is a primary branch of Nuclear Micronesian. Nauruan was not included in the database, but is widely considered the most divergent of the Micronesian languages.

It also showed that the Micronesian languages form a unit with the Fijian–Polynesian languages at a 70% confidence level.

References

  1. ^ [1]



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  • Micronesian — [mī΄krə nēzhən, mī΄krə nēshən] adj. of Micronesia or its peoples, languages, or cultures n. 1. a person born or living in Micronesia 2. the group of Austronesian languages spoken in Micronesia …   English World dictionary

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  • Micronesian — noun Date: 1847 1. a native or inhabitant of Micronesia 2. a group of Austronesian languages spoken in the Micronesian islands • Micronesian adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Micronesian — /muy kreuh nee zheuhn, sheuhn/, adj. 1. of or pertaining to Micronesia, its inhabitants, or their languages. n. 2. a native of Micronesia. 3. the Malayo Polynesian languages of Micronesia, taken collectively. [MICRONESI(A) + AN] * * * …   Universalium

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