Roviana

Roviana is a member of the Oceanic branch of Malayo-Polynesian languages spoken around Roviana and Vonavona lagoons in the north central New Georgia in the Solomon Islands. There are about 10,000 people who speak Roviana as a first language, and another 16,000 second language speakers. Roviana was formerly used as a lingua franca in the Western Solomon Islands, but now Solomon Islands Pijin is used instead.

Roviana alphabet and pronunciation

Notes

Between vowels h = [ɦ]
Ng = [ɲ] before a back vowel
R is lightly trilled in unstressed syllables and strongly trilled in stressed syllables
Vowels are nasalised when followed by n
A = [ə] after another vowel, e.g. leana [leəna]

Sample text (The Lord's Prayer - Luke 11: 2-4)

Meke zama la koa rini se Zisu, “Pude varavara gamu si mi zama guahe: ‘Tamamami, mani tava lavata sa Pozamu Hopena, va mae ia koa gami sa Butubutu Binaṉara Tamugoi.
Mu ponini gami ginani ṉinoroi meke ninae rane.
Mu taleosoni gami koari na mami sinea, ura taleoso ni gami saripu ṉoṉovala gami si gami. Mu lopu turaṉa lani gami pa tinoketoke!’ ” gua si Asa.

Source: Bible.com

Translation (English)

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Source: Bible Gateway

Sample video in Roviana

Information about Roviana | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Links

Information Roviana
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roviana_language
http://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/rug
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/lcts/bill.palmer/NWS_site/Rov/Welcome.htm
http://language.psy.auckland.ac.nz/austronesian/language.php?id=117

Roviana dictionary
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/lcts/bill.palmer/NWS_site/Rov/RovDic.pdf

Oceanic languages

Adzera, Ahamb, Äiwoo, Aneityum, Apma, Araki, Are, ’Auhelawa, Avava, Babatana, Bariai, Bola, Big Numbas, Buhutu, Bwaidoka, Caac, Cheke Holo, Dorig, Hiri Motu, Hiw, Hoava, Kakabai, Kaninuwa, Kokota, Kove, Kurti, Lakon, Lehali, Lenakel, Lewo, Lote, Lo-Toga, Löyöp, Manam, Marovo, Maskelynes, Mato, Mavea, Mono-Alu, Motu, Mussau-Emira, Mwotlap, Nafsan, Nahavaq, Namakura, Nanggu, Nduke, Neve‘ei, Neverver, Ninde, North Efate, Nume, Paamese, Papapana, Raga, Rotuman, Roviana, Sa, Sakao, Saliba, Siar, Sio, Ske, Sobei, Sursurunga, Tamambo, Tami, Teanu, Tigak, Tirax, Tolai, Touo, Ubir, Ughele, Uneapa, Vatlongos, Vitu, Vurës, Western Fijian, Yabem, Yapese

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 15.12.22

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