Ellicean languages
Encyclopedia
The Ellicean or Ellicean–Outlier languages are a group languages spoken in Polynesian outlier
s in Micronesia
, Papua New Guinea
, and the northern Solomon Islands
, as well as the languages of Tuvalu
. The name comes from the Ellice Islands, the colonial name of Tuvalu.
The other Polynesian outlier languages were traditionally classified in sister group of Futunic languages
, but Futunic is not well supported as a group.
Also classified in the past as Ellicean languages, but not included in the database, are
Polynesian outlier
Polynesian outliers are a number of culturally Polynesian islands which lie in geographic or political Melanesia and Micronesia. Based on archaeological and linguistic analysis, these islands are believed to have been colonized by seafaring Polynesians, mostly from the area of Tonga, Samoa and...
s in Micronesia
Micronesia
Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest....
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, and the northern Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, as well as the languages of Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
. The name comes from the Ellice Islands, the colonial name of Tuvalu.
The other Polynesian outlier languages were traditionally classified in sister group of Futunic languages
Futunic languages
-External links:*...
, but Futunic is not well supported as a group.
List of Ellicean languages
According to a 2008 analysis of the Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database, the languages are as follows:Also classified in the past as Ellicean languages, but not included in the database, are
- Nukumanu (on Nukumanu in the eastern islands of Papua New Guinea)
- Nuguria (or Nukuria; on NuguriaNuguriaNuguria or the Nuguria Islands, also known as the Abgarris or Fead Islands, are a Polynesian outlier and islands of Papua New Guinea. They are located nearly 200 km northeast of New Ireland and consist of two closely spaced atoll formations....
in the eastern islands of Papua New Guinea)