Nalögo language
Oceanic language spoken in Solomon Islands
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nalögo (Nalögo pronunciation: [nalɵᵑgo]) is an Oceanic language spoken on the island of Nendö in the Solomon Islands. It used to be lumped together with Natügu under a single language called the "Santa Cruz language", but the two varieties were recognized to be two distinct languages in 2012.[1]
| Santa Cruz | |
|---|---|
| |
| Native to | Solomon Islands |
| Region | Santa Cruz Islands, Eastern Solomons |
Native speakers | 1,500 (2012)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | nlz |
| Glottolog | nalo1235 |
| Coordinates: 10°49′18″S 165°49′30″E | |
Together, Nalögo, Natügu and Nanggu are the three indigenous languages of Nendö island.
Nalögo has been described by linguist Valentina Alfarano.[2]
The language
Name
The name Nalögo (new orth. Nalrgo) comes from nalö-go [nalɵᵑgo], literally "our language"[1] – from nalö "language, word" + -go "1st + 2nd person augmented enclitic").
Genetic affiliation
Like its neighbours Natügu and Nanggu, Nalögo was once thought to be dialects of a language labelled “Santa Cruz”; and the latter was long thought to be a Papuan language. In the 2000s however, it became clear that was shown to be a member of the Austronesian language family, like the rest of the Reefs – Santa Cruz languages.[3]
Dialects
Nalögo and Natügu are recognised as opposite ends of a dialect continuum.[1] The Nalögo section of the dialect chain includes two named dialects, Nea and Nooli.
Phonology
Consonants
Alfarano's analysis[2]: 42 counts 15 consonant phonemes. They are indicated here, with the orthography in ⟨angled brackets⟩:
Nalögo has the same consonants as those of neighbouring Natügu – with the addition of Nalögo pronunciation: [ⁿd͡ʒ].
Prenasalized stops can optionally be realized as plain voiced consonants.[2]: 43
Vowels
Nalögo has ten vowel phonemes:[2]: 53
These vowels can be nasalized; but Alfarano does not consider nasalization to be phonemic in the language.[2]: 60