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 to | Solomon Islands |
| Region | Santa Cruz Islands, Eastern Solomons. |
Native speakers | 5,900 (1999)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Variously:ntu – Natügunlz – Nalögonpx – Noipx |
| Glottolog | natu1250 |
| 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
References
- Natügu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Nalögo at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
Noipx at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) - 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.
- Boerger, B. H. (2012). Sociological factors in Reefs-Santa Cruz language vitality: a 40 year retrospective. Walter de Gruyter.
External links
- Buk Ngr Nzangiongr Anglican Book of Worship in the Natqgu Language
- Paradisec has a number of collections with Natügu materials
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