Micronesian languages

Micronesian
Geographic distribution:	Micronesia
Linguistic classification:	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Oceanic Central–Eastern Micronesian
Subdivisions:	Micronesian Proper Nauruan
Glottolog:	micr1243
Micronesian

The twenty Micronesian languages form a family of Oceanic languages. Micronesian languages are known for their lack of plain labial consonants; they have instead two series, palatalized and labio-velarized labials.

Components

According to Jackson 1983, 1986, the languages group as follows:

• Nauruan
• Nuclear Micronesian family
  • Kosraean
  • Central Micronesian family
    • Kiribati
    • Western Micronesian family
      • Marshallese
      • Trukic–Ponapeic family
        • Trukic (Chuukic)
        • Ponapeic (Pohnpeic)

The family appears to have originated in the east, likely on Kosrae, and spread westwards. Kosrae appears to have been settled from the south, in the region of northern Vanuatu.

External links

• Micronesian Comparative Dictionary