Nuclear Polynesian languages
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nuclear Polynesian | |
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Geographic distribution: |
Polynesia |
Genetic classification: |
Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian (MP) Nuclear MP Central-Eastern MP Eastern MP Oceanic Central-Eastern Central Pacific East Fijian-Polynesian Polynesian Nuclear Polynesian |
Subdivisions: |
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Nuclear Polynesian refers to those languages comprising the Samoic and the Eastern Polynesian branches of the Polynesian group of Austronesian languages.
The Eastern Polynesian group comprises two major subgroups: Rapa Nui, spoken on Easter Island, and Central Eastern, which is itself composed of Rapan, and the Marquesic and Tahitic languages.
Nuclear Polynesian is differentiated, among Polynesian languages, by its distinguishing characteristics from the Tongic languages spoken in most of Tonga and in Niue.
[edit] Components
- Central Eastern Polynesian
- Rapa Nui