Nukuria language


Nukuria is a Polynesian language spoken by about 550 people on Nuguria, Papua New Guinea.

Classification

Nukuria is part of the Ellicean–Outlier subbranch of the Polynesian languages, and is closely related to other nearby languages such as Nukumanu, Takuu, Nukuoro, and Luangiua.

Status

The language was taught in primary schools on Nuguria and was used for daily communications between adults and children.
Research on the language is scarce. Past research stated Nuguria was at risk of endangerment; at that point it was still being passed to children. However, recent research indicates that Nukuria is now most likely an extinct language.

Phonology

The Nukuria language's alphabet contains five vowels: /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/, and fifteen consonants: /p/, /b/, /m/, /f/, /v/, /t/, /s/, /n/, /l/, /r/, /k/, /g/, /ŋ/, /w/, /h/.

Grammar

There is a distinct scarceness of research on the grammar and alphabet of the Nukuria language, but, as with many Austronesian languages, Nukuria has a subject-verb-object sentence structure.