Tobian (, literally "the language of Tobi") is the language of Tobi, one of the Southwest Islands of Palau, and the main island of Hatohobei state. Tobian is a Micronesian language spoken by approximately 150 people, about 22 are native speakers. The speakers are located in either the island of Tobi or in Echang, a hamlet of Koror, the former capital of Palau. Tobian and Sonsorolese are very close, and appear to be gradually merging towards a new dialect called "Echangese". Earlier in the 20th century, about 1000 people lived on the island. Shortly before and during the First World War, those numbers dropped severely due to an abundance of disease.
Classification
Tobian and the dialects of Sonsorol, Merir, and Pulo Ana, the other inhabited Southwest Islands, are closely related to the languages spoken in the Federated States of Micronesia outer islands of Yap and Chuuk Lagoon. These include Ulithi and the Central Carolines. Altogether, these languages form a sub-group within the Micronesian languages. The names of these dialects are the terms that are commonly used in European terms. Below are the native names as compared to the common names:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Common name !! Native name
|-
| Sonsorol || Doŋo′sa:ru
|-
| Pul, Pulo Ana || Pu:r
|-
|Merir
|Me′lel
|-
|Tobi
|Torovei
|}
Tobi is the basis of a local pidgin.
Examples
- animal = mar
- coconut palm = ruh
- goodbye = sabuho
- language = ramarih
- soldierfish = red
Counting
- one = sewo
- two = huwou
- three = soruo
- four = fauwo
This is only base counting. There are different numerals for a lot of different objects.
Phonology
Vowels
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Vowels