Federated States of Micronesia Languages

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Federated States of Micronesia

Languages

Description

Micronesians speak English plus a native tongue. English is the official language of the government and of commerce.

There are eight main indigenous languages in the Federated States of Micronesia.

• Chuukese (also known at Trukese) - spoken primarily on the islands of Chuuk.
• Kapingamarangi - closely related to the Nukuoro language.
• Kosraeans (sometimes rendered Kusiaean) - spoken on the islands of Kosrea.
• Nukuoro - spoken on the Nukuoro Atoll and on Pohnpei
• Pohnpeian - spoken on the island of Pohnpei.
• Ulithian - spoken on Ulithi Atoll and neighboring islands.
• Woleaian - main language on the island of Woleai and surrounding smaller islands.
• Yapese - spoken by the people on the island of Yap.

Other indigenous languages spoken by smaller numbers include:

• Mortlockese - spoken on the Mortlock Islands.
• Pingelapese - spoken on Pingelap.
• Mokilese - spoken on Mwoakilloa.
• Puluwat - spoken on Poluwat.
• Pááfang - spoken on the Hll Islands.
• Namonuito - spoken on Namonuito Atoll.
• Ngatikese - spoken on Sapwuahfik Atoll.
• Satawalese - very similar to Mortlockese.
• Nguluwan - spoken on Nguluwan Atoll.
• Ngatikese Creole - spoken on the atoll of Sapwuahfik.

NOTE: many elderly people are fluent in Japanese.

The records are in Spanish, German, English, or the native tongue, depending on the time period and the island or island group.

Word List(s)

For word lists and help researching in Federated States of Micronesia records, see:

• Spanish Genealogical Word List
• German Genealogical Word List

Word List in Native Languages:

• Useful Phrases in Chuukese (Omniglot)
• Useful Phrases in Yapese (Omniglot)

Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Chuukese language (Omniglot online encyclopedia of writing systems and Languages)
• Pohnpeian language (Omniglot online encyclopedia of writing systems and Languages)
• Kosraean language (Omniglot online encyclopedia of writing systems and Languages)
• Yapese language (Omniglot online encyclopedia of writing systems and Languages)

Language Aids and Dictionaries

Language Aids

• Chuukese language - Wikipedia
• Kapingamarangi language - Wikipedia
• Kosraean language - Wikipedia
• Nukuoro language - Wikipedia
• Pohnpeian language - Wikipedia
• Ulithian language - Wikipedia
• Woleaian language - Wikipedia
• Yapese language - Wikipedia