Santa Cruz language

The Santa Cruz language (locally known as Natügu) is the main language spoken on the island of Nendö or 'Santa Cruz', in the Solomon Islands.

Santa Cruz
Natügu
Native toSolomon Islands
RegionSanta Cruz Islands, Eastern Solomons.
Native speakers
5,900 (1999)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3Variously:
ntu  Natügu
nlz  Nalögo
npx  Noipx
Glottolognatu1250
Coordinates: 10°40′S 165°50′E

Name

The name Natügu means "our language" (natü "language, word" + -gu "1st + 2nd person plural suffix").

Genetic affiliation

It was widely believed until recently that Santa Cruz was a Papuan language. Like the rest of the Reefs – Santa Cruz languages, however, it has been shown to be a member of the Austronesian language family.[2]

Dialects

Dialects are Bënwë (Banua), Londai, Malo, Nea, Nooli. Speakers of most dialects understand Lwowa and Mbanua well. The Nea and Nooli dialects are the most divergent, actually a separate language (Nalögo).

Phonology

Consonants

Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar
plain round pal. plain round pal. plain round pal.
Stop voiceless p t k
aspirated
voiced b d ɡ ɡʷ
Nasal m n ŋ ŋʷ
Fricative v s
Approximant l j w

Voiced stops can also be heard as prenasalized.[3]

Vowels

Front Central Back
Close i ʉ u
Close-mid e ɵ o
Near-open æ ə ɔ
Open a
Nasal vowels
Front Central Back
Close ũ
Close-mid ɵ̃ õ
Near-open æ̃ ə̃ ɔ̃
Open ã

References

  1. Natügu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
    Nalögo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
    Noipx at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. Næss, Åshild and Brenda H. Boerger (2008). "Reefs – Santa Cruz as Oceanic: Evidence from the Verb Complex". Oceanic Linguistics. 47: 185–212. doi:10.1353/ol.0.0000.
  3. Boerger, B. H. (2012). Sociological factors in Reefs-Santa Cruz language vitality: a 40 year retrospective. Walter de Gruyter.
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