Pohnpeic, also rendered Ponapeic, is a subgroup of the Chuukic–Pohnpeic branch of Micronesian in the Austronesian language family. The languages are primarily spoken in Pohnpei State of the Federated States of Micronesia.

Languages

  • Mokilese
  • Pingelapese
  • Pohnpeian
  • Ngatikese

Innovations

Pohnpeic languages are distinct from the closely related Chuukic languages as a result of uniquely developed innovations. One such innovation is nasal substitution, where the first element in a consonant geminate becomes a homorganic nasal consonant. An example of this change is seen where Proto-Chuukic-Pohnpeic */kkaŋ/ 'sharp' became Mokilese , whereas in Chuukese it is .

Phonology

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center

|+ Proto-Pohnpeic reflexes of Proto-Oceanic consonants

|-

! Proto-Oceanic

| *p || *t || *k || || *s, *nj || *ns, *j || *j || *mp || *mp, *ŋp || *nt, *nd || *ŋk || *m || *m, *ŋm || *n || *ɲ || *ŋ || *w || *y || *d,R || *l

|-

! Proto-Micronesian

| *f || *t || *k || *T || *s || *S || *Z || *p || *pʷ || *c || *x || *m || *mʷ || *n || *ɲ || *ŋ || *w || *y || *r || *l

|-

! Proto-Chuukic-Pohnpeic

| *f || *t || *k || *j || *t || *t || *∅ || *p || *pʷ || *c || *∅,r<sup>3</sup> || *m || *mʷ || *n || *ɲ || *ŋ || *w || *y || *r || *l

|-

! Proto-Pohnpeic

| *p, ∅<sup>2</sup> || *j,∅<sup>1</sup>{_i,u,e<sup>4</sup>} || *k || *j || *t̻ || *t̻ || *∅ || *p<sup>1</sup> || *pʷ || *c || *∅,r<sup>3</sup> || *m || *mʷ || *n || *∅,n{high V_} || *ŋ || *w || *y || *r || *l

|-

|}

<sup>1</sup> In the Pohnpeic languages, geminate obstruents are realized as homorganic nasal-obstruent clusters.<br>

<sup>2</sup> Often before .<br>

<sup>3</sup> Before .<br>

<sup>4</sup> The reflex is *∅ sporadically before PMc *e.

Reconstructed vocabulary

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center

|+ Reconstructed Proto-Pohnpeic Vocabulary

|-

! Proto-Pohnpeic

! English Gloss

! Modern Language Reflexes

|-

| *cana-k,cana-ko || be hung up, to hang up || PON , MOK

|-

| *palia || day after tomorrow || PON , MOK

|-

| *payipayi || sea urchin || PON , MOK

|-

| *wara || neck || PON 'his/her neck', MOK

|-

|}

References