Pileni language
Encyclopedia
Vaeakau-Taumako is a Polynesian language spoken in some of the Reef Islands
as well as in the Taumako
Islands (also known as the Duff Islands
) in the Temotu
province of the Solomon Islands
.
The language is spoken throughout the Taumako Islands, while in the Reef Islands, it is spoken on Aua, Matema
, Nifiloli
, Nupani, Nukapu
, and Pileni
. Speakers are thought to be descendants of people from Tuvalu.
The language has traditionally been considered one of the Futunic
group of Polynesian languages, but a 2008 study exclusively based on lexical evidence concluded that this membership is weakly supported.
Reef Islands
The Reef Islands are a loose collection of 16 islands in the northwestern part of the Solomon Islands province of Temotu. These islands have historically also been known by the names of Swallow Islands and Matema Islands....
as well as in the Taumako
Taumako
Taumako is the largest of the Duff Islands. This 5.7 km long island has steep sides and rises to a height of 400 m above sea level. It is composed of basaltic lavas and pyroclastics like the other islands in the Duffs ....
Islands (also known as the Duff Islands
Duff Islands
The Duff Islands are a small island group lying to the northeast of the Santa Cruz Islands in the Solomon Islands province of Temotu. They are also sometimes known as the Wilson Islands....
) in the Temotu
Temotu Province
Temotu is the easternmost province of the Solomon Islands. The province was formerly known as Santa Cruz Islands Province. It consists, essentially, of two chains of islands which run parallel to each other from the northwest to the southeast.- Islands :...
province of the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
.
The language is spoken throughout the Taumako Islands, while in the Reef Islands, it is spoken on Aua, Matema
Matema
Matema is a town in southwestern Tanzania. The town is primarily a fishing village with some agriculture. It is located on the northern tip of Lake Nyasa and is 90 kilometres south-east of Mbeya....
, Nifiloli
Nifiloli
Nifiloli is an island in the Reef Islands, in the of the Solomon Islands province of Temotu. Despite its location in Melanesia, the population of the islands is Polynesian. The language spoken on Nifiloli is Pileni language-External links:* *...
, Nupani, Nukapu
Nukapu
Nukapu is one of the islands of the nation of Solomon Islands. It is in the Reef Islands group in Temotu Province; the easternmost province of the Solomons.The island contains a memorial to Bishop John Patteson who was murdered on Nukapu in 1871....
, and Pileni
Pileni
Pileni is a culturally important island in the Reef Islands, in the northern part of the Solomon Islands province of Temotu. Despite its location in Melanesia, the population of the islands is Polynesian.-Language:...
. Speakers are thought to be descendants of people from Tuvalu.
The language has traditionally been considered one of the Futunic
Futunic languages
-External links:*...
group of Polynesian languages, but a 2008 study exclusively based on lexical evidence concluded that this membership is weakly supported.