Solomon Islands Languages
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Description[edit | edit source]
While English is the official language of the Solomon Islands, only 1–2% of the population are able to communicate fluently in English. However, an English creole, Solomons Pijin, is a de facto lingua franca of the country spoken by the majority of the population, along with local tribal languages. Pijin is closely related to Tok Pisin spoken in Papua New Guinea.
The number of local languages listed for Solomon Islands is 74, of which 70 are living languages and 4 are extinct. The different languages are spoken in the following areas:
- Western Oceanic languages - the central islands
- Polynesian languages - Rennell and Bellona to the south
- Tikopia, Anuta and Fatutaka - the far east
- Sikaiana - the north east
- Luaniua - the north
- Oceanic language - The immigrant population of Gilbertese (I-Kiribati) [1]
List of the Solomon Islands languages (Wikipedia)
Word List(s)[edit | edit source]
Solomons Pijin
Aftanun olketa! = Good afternoon everyone!
Nem blo mi Charles = My name is Charles
Hao nao (iu)? (Iu hao?) = How are you
Wat na nem blo iu? = What is your name?
Iu blo wea? = Where are you from?
Mi hapi tumas fo mitim iu. = I'm pleased to meet you.
Wanem nao lanus iu save? = What languages do you know?
Mi olraet nomoa = I am alright
Mi gut (nomoa) = I am good'
Oraet nomoa = Alright
Ma iu (yu) hao? = And how are you?
Tanggio tumas = Thank you very much
Alphabet and Pronunciation[edit | edit source]
Solomons Pijin
Language Aids and Dictionaries[edit | edit source]
Solomons Pijin
- Pijin Translation Services (Translation-Services-USA)
- Tok Pijin, A Quick Guide to Speaking Pijin (Ramsi)
Additional Resources[edit | edit source]
- Mellow, Greg. A dictionary of Owa : a language of the Solomon Islands. Boston: De Gruyter, 2013. Available at: WorldCat.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Faroe Islands," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faroe_Islands#Language, accessed 30 Jun 2021.