Episode 21 Languages of the South Pacific Part 1

Language Families of the World

Dr John McWhorter (2019)

Film Review

After living in the South Pacific for 23 years, I have a special interest in the Austronesian language family, which consists of 1000 languages. Austronesian languages are generally characterized by short two to three syllable words, sentences that begin with the verb and reduplication (doubling nouns to create subtle changes in meaning – eg in Maori ringa (arm) becomes ringaringa for fingers.

Most linguists believe that the Austronesian languages are derived from Thao, a language spoken in Taiwain (and possible southern China). All Austronesian words for rice, sugar cane, ax and canoe are similar to words used in Taiwan for similar objects. Northern South Pacific languages are referred to as Melanesian – Southern South Pacific languages are called Polynesian.

Melanesian (Northern South Pacific  Languages)

• Malay (spoken in Malaysia and Indonesia)
• Tagalog (spoken in Philippines)
• Motu (spoken in New Guinea)
• Fijian
• Samoan.
• Tai-Kadai languages (spoken in Thailand and by indigenous Ainu people In Japan).
• Baruto languages (spoken in Malagasy off the southeast coast of Africa)

https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/watch/video/6120000/6120040