The family of Southeast Solomonic languages forms a branch of the Oceanic languages. It consists of some 26 languages covering the Eastern Solomon Islands, from the tip of Santa Isabel to Makira. It is defined by the merger of Proto-Oceanic *l and *R. The fact that there is little diversity amongst these languages, compared to groups of similar size in Melanesia, suggests that they dispersed in the relatively recent past. Bugotu, Gela and Lengo are three of the most conservative languages out of all of them.

Languages

According to Lynch, Ross, & Crowley (2002), the structure of the family is as follows:

  • Southeast Solomonic family
  • Bugotu–Gela–Guadalcanal family
  • Bughotu (Bugotu)
  • Gela–Guadalcanal family
  • Gelic: Lengo, Gela
  • Guadalcanalese: Birao, Ghari, Malango, Talise
  • Longgu–Malaita–Makira family
  • Longgu
  • Malaita–Makira family
  • Saʼa
  • Makiran (San Cristobal): Arosi, Fagani, Bauro, Kahua–Owa, ?Marau Wawa
  • Malaitan
  • Central–North Malaitan: North (Toʼabaita, Baelelea, Baeggu, Fataleka), Lau, Kwaraʼae, Wala, Gulaʼalaa, Kwaio, Doriʼo
  • Southern Malaitan: ꞋAreꞌare, Marau, Oroha

Basic vocabulary

Basic vocabulary in many Southeast Solomonic languages is somewhat conservative, unlike Northwest Solomonic forms, many of which have no Proto-Oceanic cognates. Below, Lengo and Arosi are compared with three Northwest Solomonic languages. Aberrant forms are in bold.

:{|

! English !! arm !! ear !! liver !! bone !! skin !! louse

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| Proto-Oceanic || || || || || ||

|-

| Ririo || || || || || ||

|-

| Zabana || || || || || ||

|-

| Maringe || || || || || ||

|-

| Lengo || || || || || ||

|-

| Arosi || || || || || ||

|}

References

Further reading

  • Tryon, Darrell T. and B. D. Hackman. 1983. Solomon Islands Languages: An Internal Classification. (Pacific Linguistics: Series C, 72.) Canberra: Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University