Satawalese

Satawalese is a Micronesian language spoken by about 700 people mainly on Satawal Island in the Federated States of Micronesia. It is also spoken in Yap State, and nearby islands such as Lamotrek, Woleai, Puluwat, Pulusuk, and Chuuk State. There are also a few speakers in Saipan, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the USA.

Satawalese belongs to the Truukic group of Micronesian languages, a part of the Malayo-Polynesian language family. Related languages include Carolinian, Chuukese, Mapia, Mortlockese, Namonuito, Paafang, Puluwatese, Sonsorol, Tanapag, Tobian, Ulithian, and Woleaian.

A number of different orthographies, developed by missionaries, linguistics and native speakers, have been used to write Satawalese. The Yapese Department of Education orthography, which is shown below, has been used since 2000.

Satawalese alphabet and pronunciation

Satawalese alphabet and pronunciation

Sample of Satawalese

E pwe faen fitou aei aenganiuk pwe o pwe pweoipweokto noaumw saar ikine o pwe moa seokseok wiirh?

Translation

How many times do I have to tell you to bring a machete with you when we go collect bananas?

Source: http://kevinroddy.info/2012/library/ma_thesis_roddy_final_6_18_07.pdf

Sample video in Satawalese

Information about Satawalese | Numbers

Links

Information about Satawalese
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satawalese_language
http://kevinroddy.info/2012/library/ma_thesis_roddy_final_6_18_07.pdf
http://www.ethnologue.com/language/stw

Micronesian languages

Carolinian, Chuukese, Kiribati (Gilbertese), Kosraean, Marshallese, Mokilese, Mortlockese, Nauruan, Pááfang, Pingelapese, Pohnpeian, Puluwatese, Satawalese, Sonsorolese, Tobian, Ulithian, Woleaian

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 23.04.21

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