Marshallese

MAH

national

Alternate Names: Ebon

Dialects: Rälik, Ratak. Dialects inherently intelligible. Ujelang, the westernmost island, has slightly less homogeneous speech. Lexical similarity: 33% with Pohnapeian ,.

Status Notes: De facto national language.

Genealogy:

Austronesian
Malayo-Polynesian
Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian
Eastern Malayo-Polynesian
Oceanic
Central-Eastern Oceanic
Remote Oceanic
Micronesian
Micronesian Proper
Marshallese

Demographics: 43,900 in Marshall Islands (1979 B. Bender). Population total all countries: 54,600.

Language Use: Vigorous.

Language Development: Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1982.

Spoken In: Marshall Islands

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Marshall Islands