| Northwest Solomonic | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | Solomon Islands |
| Linguistic classification | Austronesian
|
| Proto-language | Proto-Northwest Solomonic |
| Subdivisions |
|
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | nort3225 |
The family ofNorthwest Solomonic languages is a branch of theOceanic languages. It includes theAustronesian languages ofBougainville andBuka inPapua New Guinea, and ofChoiseul,New Georgia, andSanta Isabel (excludingBugotu) inSolomon Islands.
The unity of Northwest Solomonic and the number and composition of its subgroups, along with its relationship to other Oceanic groups, was established in pioneering work byMalcolm Ross.[1]
Northwest Solomonic languages group as follows:[2]
In addition, the extinctKazukuru language was probably one of the New Georgia languages. The unclassified extinct languageTetepare might have also been one of the New Georgia languages, if it was Austronesian at all.
Basic vocabulary in many Northwest Solomonic languages is aberrant, and many forms do not haveProto-Oceanic cognates.[4] Below,Ririo,Zabana, andMaringe are compared with twoSoutheast Solomonic languages. Aberrant forms are in bold.
| English | arm | ear | liver | bone | skin | louse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proto-Oceanic | *lima | *taliŋa | *qate | *suRi | *kulit | *kutu |
| Ririo | karisi | ŋgel | tutuen | punda | kapat | utu |
| Zabana | kame | taliŋa | kola | huma | kafu | gutu |
| Maringe | lima | khuli | khebu | knubra | guli | theli |
| Gela | lima | kuli | ate | huli | gui-guli | gutu |
| Arosi | rima | kariŋa | rogo | su-suri | ʔuri-ʔuri | kote |