Northwest Solomonic languages
The family of Northwest Solomonic languages is a branch of the Oceanic languages. It includes the Austronesian languages of Bougainville and Buka in Papua New Guinea, and of Choiseul, New Georgia, and Santa Isabel in Solomon 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 by Malcolm Ross.Languages
Northwest Solomonic languages group as follows:
- Nehan – North Bougainville linkage
- *Nehan
- *Saposa–Tinputz: Hahon, Saposa –Teop, Tinputz
- *Buka: Halia–Hakö, Petats
- *Papapana
- *Solos
- Piva–Bannoni family: Piva, Bannoni
- Mono–Uruavan family: Mono-Alu, Torau, Uruava
- Choiseul linkage: Babatana –Ririo, Vaghua–Varisi
- New Georgia – Ysabel family
- *New Georgia linkage: Simbo, Roviana–Kusaghe, Marovo, Hoava, Vangunu, Nduke, Ghanongga, Lungga, Ughele
- *Ysabel linkage: Zabana –Laghu†, Kokota–Zazao –Blablanga, Gao–Cheke Holo
In addition, the extinct Kazukuru language was probably one of the New Georgia languages. The unclassified extinct language Tetepare might have also been one of the New Georgia languages, if it was Austronesian at all.Basic vocabulary in many Southeast Solomonic languages are aberrant, and many forms do not have Proto-Oceanic cognates. Below, Ririo, Zabana, and Maringe are compared with three other Southeast Solomonic languages. Aberrant forms are in italics.
