Pohnpeic languages

Pohnpeic, also rendered Ponapeic, is a subgroup of the Chuukic–Pohnpeic branch of Micronesian in the Austronesian language family.^[1] The languages are primarily spoken in Pohnpei State of the Federated States of Micronesia.

Pohnpeic
Ponapeic
Geographic distribution	Micronesia
Linguistic classification	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Oceanic Micronesian Micronesian Proper Nuclear Micronesian Chuukic-Pohnpeic Pohnpeic
Language codes
Glottolog	pona1248
Map of the Micronesian languages; Pohnpeic languages are shaded in pink, while the Chuukic languages are red.

Languages

• Mokilese
• Pingelapese
• Pohnpeian
• Ngatikese^[2]

Innovations

Pohnpeic languages are distinct from the closely related Chuukic languages as a result of uniquely developed innovations. One such innovation is nasal substitution, where the first element in a consonant geminate becomes a homorganic nasal consonant.^[3] An example of this change is seen where Proto-Chuukic-Pohnpeic */kkaŋ/ 'sharp' became Mokilese /iŋkɔŋ/, whereas in Chuukese it is /kken/.^[4]

Phonology

Proto-Pohnpeic reflexes of Proto-Oceanic consonants^[5]

Proto-Oceanic	*p	*t	*k		*s, *nj	*ns, *j	*j	*mp	*mp, *ŋp	*nt, *nd	*ŋk	*m	*m, *ŋm	*n	*ɲ	*ŋ	*w	*y	*d,R	*l
Proto-Micronesian	*f	*t	*k	*T	*s	*S	*Z	*p	*pʷ	*c	*x	*m	*mʷ	*n	*ɲ	*ŋ	*w	*y	*r	*l
Proto-Chuukic-Pohnpeic	*f	*t	*k	*j	*t	*t	*∅	*p	*pʷ	*c	*∅,r3	*m	*mʷ	*n	*ɲ	*ŋ	*w	*y	*r	*l
Proto-Pohnpeic	*p, ∅2	*j,∅1{_i,u,e4}	*k	*j	*t̻	*t̻	*∅	*p1	*pʷ	*c	*∅,r3	*m	*mʷ	*n	*∅,n{high V_}	*ŋ	*w	*y	*r	*l

¹ In the Pohnpeic languages, geminate obstruents are realized as homorganic nasal-obstruent clusters.
² Often before /i/.
³ Before /a/.
⁴ The reflex is *∅ sporadically before PMc *e.

Reconstructed vocabulary

Reconstructed Proto-Pohnpeic Vocabulary ^[6]

Proto-Pohnpeic	English Gloss	Modern Language Reflexes
*cana-k,cana-ko	be hung up, to hang up	PON tɛnɛ-k, MOK sɔnɔ
*palia	day after tomorrow	PON pali, MOK pali
*payipayi	sea urchin	PON pɛypɛy, MOK pɔypɔy
*wara	neck	PON wɛrɛ 'his/her neck', MOK wɔr