Languages of the Solomon Islands archipelago

Between 60 and 70 languages are spoken in the Solomon Islands Archipelago[1] which covers a broader area than the nation state of Solomon Islands,[2] and includes the island of Bougainville, which is an autonomous province of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The lingua franca of the archipelago is Pidgin, and the official language in both countries is English.

Languages of the Solomon Islands
Language families of the (geographic) Solomon Islands
Red: North Bougainville
Blue: South Bougainville
Green: Central Solomons
Grey: Austronesian
OfficialEnglish
IndigenousSeveral languages
VernacularPijin, Solomon Islands English
Keyboard layout

Language families

Most of the languages in the Solomon Islands are Austronesian languages.

The Central Solomon languages such as Bilua, Lavukaleve, Savosavo and Touo constitute an independent family within the Papuan languages.[3]

Two other language families are represented on Bougainville, which is geographically part of the Solomon Islands, if not within the national boundaries.

The status of the Reefs – Santa Cruz languages were once thought to be non-Austronesian, but further research found them to be divergent Austronesian languages.[4] The neighbouring languages of Vanikoro are also heavily relexified Austronesian languages.[5]

An indigenous sign language, Rennellese Sign Language, has gone extinct.

Languages of the Solomon Islands archipelago
LanguageISO 639-3 codeSpeakers  % of total popⁿAreaFamily Branch
Pijinpis24,390 (lg 1)
307,000 (lg 2)		 4.0689 (lg 1)

51.2162 (lg 2)

 Creole
'Are'arealu17,800 2.9695MalaitaSoutheast Solomonic Oceanic
Arosiaia6,750 1.1261Makira
Baeggubvd5,900 0.9843Malaita
Baeleleabvc8,800 1.4681Malaita
Baurobxa3,420 0.5706Makira
Biraobrr5,900 0.9843Guadalcanal
Bughotubgt4,048 0.6753Santa Isabel
Dori'odor2,406 0.4014Malaita
Faganifaf902 0.1505Makira
Fatalekafar6,703 1.1182Malaita
Gelanlg11,876 1.9813Nggela Islands
Gharigri12,119 2.0218Guadalcanal
Gula'alaagmb1,568 0.2616Malaita
Kahuaagw5,170 0.8625Makira
Kwaiokwd13,249 2.2103Malaita
Kwara'aekwf32,433 5.4107Malaita
Laullu16,937 2.8256Malaita
Lengolgr13,752 2.2942Guadalcanal
Longgulgu1,894 0.3160Guadalcanal
Orohaora38 0.0063Malaita
Owastn3,069 0.5120Makira
Sa'aapb11,519 1.9217Malaita
Talisetlr12,525 2.0895Guadalcanal
Toqabaqitamlu12,572 2.0974Malaita
Walalgl6,978 1.1641Malaita
Malangomln4,135 0.6898Guadalcanal
Gilbertesegil1,230 0.2052Gizo, ChoiseulMicronesian
Tanematnx1 0.0002VanikoroTemotu
Asubuoaua10 0.0017Utupua
Ambautp593 0.0989Utupua
Äiwoonfl8,400 1.4014Reef Islands
Lovonovnk4 0.0007Vanikoro
Nanggungr210 0.0350Nendö
Natüguntu4,280 0.7140Nendö
Nalögonlz1,620 0.2703Nendö
Tanibilitbe15 0.0025Utupua
Teanutkw800 0.1335Vanikoro
Rennellese Sign Language0 0.0000 Rennell and Bellona ProvinceHome sign
Rennellesemnv3,191 0.5323Polynesian
Luangiuaojv2,367 0.3949Ontong Java
Sikaianasky731 0.1220Sikaiana
Tikopiatkp3,324 0.5545Tikopia, Vanikoro
Vaeakau-Taumakopiv1,142 0.1905Duff Is, Reef Is
Anutaaud267 0.0445Anuta Island
Lunggalga2,767 0.4616RanonggaWestern Oceanic
Marovomvo8,094 1.3503New Georgia
Monomte3,337 0.5567Shortland Is, Treasury Is
Ririorri79 0.0132Choiseul Province
Rovianarug9,871 1.6468New Georgia
Babatanabaa5,600 0.9342Choiseul Province
Blablangablp1,772 0.2956Santa Isabel
Cheke Holomrn10,840 1.8084Santa Isabel
Dororodrr0 0.0000New Georgia
Dukenke2,312 0.3857Kolombangara
Ghanonggaghn2,508 0.4184Ranongga
Guliguligli0 0.0000New Georgia
Hoavahoa459 0.0766New Georgia
Kazukurukzk0 0.0000New Georgia
Kokotakkk530 0.0884Santa Isabel
Kusagheksg2,395 0.3996New Georgia
Simbosbb2,701 0.4506Simbo
Ugheleuge1,202 0.2005Rendova Island
Vaghuatva1,960 0.3270Choiseul Province
Vangunumpr907 0.1513Vangunu
Varisivrs5,161 0.8610Choiseul Province
Gaogga1,215 0.2027Santa Isabel
Laghulgb15 0.0025Santa Isabel
Zabanakji3,355 0.5597Santa Isabel
Zazaojaj10 0.0017Santa Isabel
Lavukalevelvk1,783 0.2975Russell IslandsCentral Solomonic
Savosavosvs2,415 0.4029Savo
Touotqu1,874 0.3126Rendova Island
Biluablb8,740 1.4581Vella Lavella

Italics indicate that a language is extinct.

Footnotes
  1. Tryon & Hackman (1983).
  2. Ples Blong Iumi: Solomon Islands the Past Four Thousand Years, Hugh Laracy (ed.), University of the South Pacific, 1989, ISBN 982-02-0027-X
  3. Obata (2003:1)
  4. Ross & Næss (2007).
  5. François (2009)

Sources
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