Mangareva sounds and phonology

Mangarevan alphabet

A a

B b

C c

D d

E e

F f

G g

H h / ’

I i

J j

K k

L l

M m

[a]

[b]

[s]

[d]

[e]

[f]

[ŋ]

[ʔ]

[i]

[z]

[k]

[ð]

[m]

N n

O o

P p

Q q

R r

S s

T t

U u

V v

W w

X x

Y y

Z z

[n]

[o]

[p]

[θ]

[r]

[g]

[t]

[u]

[v]

[ʟ]

[x]

[ɣ]

[h]

Mangarevan has 9 phonemic consonants: /p t k m n ŋ v r ʔ/ and 5 vowels: /a e i o u/. The velar nasal /ŋ/ is spelled |G| in the orthography.

The absence of */s/ is shared with most Polynesian languages; the absence of */f/ is a characteristic shared with Rarotongan, Ra'ivavae and Rapa Iti.

Mangareva's phonology has been identified as a Marquesic derivative from Proto-Eastern Polynesian (PEP) and Proto-Central Eastern (PCE).

Doublets, words that have different phonological forms but the same etymological root, are more common in Mangarevan language in comparison to any other Eastern Polynesian culture.

For example, a PEP doublet like fafine (ʻwoman’) becomes ʻaʻine in Mangarevan. Furthermore, a modern Mangarevan (MGV) doublet is veʻine (ʻmarried woman’ or ʻwife’).

External links

• Mangareva language