The Santa Cruz language (locally known as Natügu) is the main language spoken on the island of
Nendö or 'Santa Cruz', in the
Solomon Islands.
Name
The name ''Natügu'' means "our language" (''natü'' "language, word" + ''-gu'' "1st + 2nd person plural suffix").
Genetic affiliation
It was widely believed until recently that Santa Cruz was a
Papuan language. Like the rest of the
Reefs – Santa Cruz languages
The Reef Islands – Santa Cruz languages (usually shortened to Reefs – Santa Cruz, abbreviated RSC) are a branch of the Oceanic languages comprising the languages of the Santa Cruz Islands and Reef Islands:
* Äiwoo (also known as ''Reefs'') ...
, however, it has been shown to be a member of the
Austronesian
Austronesian may refer to:
*The Austronesian languages
*The historical Austronesian peoples
The Austronesian peoples, sometimes referred to as Austronesian-speaking peoples, are a large group of peoples in Taiwan, Maritime Southeast Asia, M ...
language family.
Dialects
Dialects are Bënwë (Banua), Londai, Malo, Nea, Nooli. Speakers of most dialects understand Lwowa and Mbanua well. The Nea and Nooli dialects are the most divergent, actually a separate language (Nalögo).
Phonology
Consonants
Voiced stops can also be heard as prenasalized.
Vowels
References
External links
Buk Ngr NzangiongrAnglican Book of Worship in the Natqgu Language
*
Paradisec ha
a number of collections with Natügu materials
{{Authority control
Languages of the Solomon Islands
Temotu languages