Hiw language

Hiw
Native to Vanuatu
Region Hiw
Native speakers
280 (2012)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3 hiw
Glottolog hiww1237[2]

Hiw (sometimes spelled Hiu) is an Oceanic language spoken on the island of Hiw, in the Torres Islands of Vanuatu.[3]

It is distinct from Lo-Toga, the other language of the Torres group.

The language

Hiw has 280 speakers, and is considered endangered.[4][5]

Phonology

Vowels

Hiw has 9 phonemic vowels. These are all short monophthongs /i ɪ e ɵ ə a ʉ o ɔ/.[6]

Consonants

Hiw has 14 consonants.[6]

Hiw consonants
Bilabial Alveolar Palatal Velar Labiovelar
Plosive p t k
Nasal m n ŋ ŋʷ
Fricative β s ɣ w
Prestopped
lateral
ɡ͡ʟ
Glide j

All plosives are voiceless. Hiw is the only Austronesian language whose consonant inventory includes a prestopped velar lateral approximant /ɡ͡ʟ/; this complex segment is Hiw's only liquid.[7]

References

  1. François (2012):88).
  2. Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin; Bank, Sebastian, eds. (2016). "Hiw". Glottolog 2.7. Jena: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
  3. François (2005:444)
  4. François (2012):100).
  5. UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger: Hiw.
  6. 1 2 François (2010a:396)
  7. François (2010a)

Bibliography

External links


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