Rennellese (Munggava / Mungiki)

Rennellese is a Polynesian language spoken by about 4,400 people in Rennell and Bellona Province of the Solomon Islands. Rennell, or Mungava (large island), and Bellona, or Mungiki (small mountain) are two of the Solomon Islands where the people and language are Polynesian.

Rennellese, which is also known as Rennell-Bellona, is recognized as the official language of Rennell and Bellona Province. The language is used in families, education, business and social life, and is spoken by most people in Rennell and Bellona as their first language.

There is a Rennellese dictionary and a number of other books, mainly written by Samuel H. Elbert between the 1960s and the 1990s.

Rennellese alphabet and pronunciation

Notes

Primary stress is usually on the penultimate syllable
Secondary stress is on alternating preceding syllabes
Double vowels as pronounced as separate syllables
Consonants are always followed by vowels
The sound [ŋ] does not occur in Bellonese

Source: http://www.bellona.dk/dictionary/be_to_eng/dictionary_be_to_eng.pdf

Sample text

Kenakena te ngangi o Semoana
Na'e ou angatonu noku tuku matamata
Tangohia ki te ngangi mangama,
Saunia ki taku kakatu'a,
Te okiokinga o Tetonusanga.

Translation

Rich with fruit on all branches [is] the sky of Semoana
But your sacred share, which [you] have sent is still light (unripe)
[Let the tree] be covered [with fruit] in the sky of light
I make kuba magic in my small temple,
The resting place of Tetonusanga.

Part of a song called Te maghliti

Source: http://www.bellona.dk/multimedia/songs/sobi/sobi_vol_2/sobi_vol_2.pdf

Sample video in Rennellese

Information about Rennellese | Numbers

Links

Information Rennellese
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rennellese_language
https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rennell_(kieli)
http://www2.ling.su.se/pollinet/facts/ren.html
http://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/mnv/
http://www.bellona.dk

Polynesian languages

Anutan, Austral, Emae, Futuna-Aniwa, Futunan, Hawaiian, Kapingamarangi, Mangareva, Māori, Marquesan (North), Marquesan (South), Mele-Fila, Moriori, Niuafoʻou, Niuatoputapu-Tafahi, Niuean, Nukumanu, Nukuoro, Nukuria, Ontong Java, Penrhyn, Pukapukan, Rakahanga-Manihiki, Rapa, Rapa Nui, Rarotongan, Rennellese, Samoan, Sikaiana, Tahitian, Takuu, Tikopia, Tokelauan, Tongan, Tuamotuan, Tuvaluan, Vaeakau-Taumako, Wallisian, West Uvean

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 23.04.21

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