Sonsorolese

A language of Palau

ISO 639: sov
Alternate Names: Sonsorol, Sonsorol-Tobi
Population: 360 (2007 R. Dongosaro). About 60 on the outer islands (Sonsoral 30, Pulo Anna 10, Merir 3) and 300 in Koror town, Echang village.
Location:: Sonsorol state: Merir, Pulo Anna, and Sonsorol islands.
Language Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (1979, Constitution, Article 13(1)).
Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Micronesian, Micronesian Proper, Pohnpeic-Chuukic, Chuukic
Dialects: Sonsorolese, Pulo Anna, Merir. Significant linguistic differences between Tobian [tox] and Sonsorolese; similar to or greater than differences between, e.g., Puluwatese [puw] and Namonuito [nmt]. 50% intelligibility of Woleaian [woe], less with the remainder of the Trukic continuum. The Merir dialect reportedly has no remaining speakers. Lexical similarity: 69% with Ulithian [uli].
Language Use: Young Sonsorolese are reported to speak their native language with many English [eng] admixtures. Consequently, their speech is very different from the Sonsorolese of the elder generation, in which there are currently less than 20 speakers over 60 years old. Some of all ages. Most also use Palauan [pau]. Also use English [eng].
Language Development: Dictionary. Grammar.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Sonsorolese
Writing: Latin script [Latn].

Location: Sonsorol state: Merir, Pulo Anna, and Sonsorol islands.