OVERVIEW

The Micronesian Phrasebook is a practical communication guide for all the languages spoken in Micronesia. . Several years in the making, this collection of words and phrases aims to facilitate basic conversation and raise the awareness of local Micronesian languages. It is the perfect resource for visitors wanting to participate in island life rather than observe it, as well as for the local residents interested in their neighbors' languages. Thoroughly researched and comprehensive, it is also well organized and user-friendly. The book includes information on all languages spoken in the region and is the first such book ever developed for Micronesia.

COMPLETE COVERAGE

All languages spoken in the seven countries and territories of Micronesia are represented. They include (in alphabetical order) Carolinian, Chamorro, Palauan, Sonsorolese, Tobian, Yapese, Ulithian, Satawalese, Woleaian, Chuukese, Mortlockese, Paafang, Namonuito, Puluwatese, Pohnpeian, Pingelapese, Mokilese, Ngatikese, Kapingamarangan, Nukuoran, Kosraean, Marshallese, Kiribati, and Nauruan language. Each language is equally represented, irrespective of the number of speakers. The book also includes interesting material on Ngatik Men's Creole, Guamanian English, and Nauruan Chinese Pidgin.

CONTENT

The book contains words and phrases and extensive supplementary material. There are about 10 legal size pages worth of words and phrases for each language. Each language section is accompanied by a brief introduction and a pronunciation guide. In addition, there are short texts about interesting linguistic and cultural topics in Micronesia, such as honorific speech on Pohnpei, native writing system in the Outer Islands of Yap, rich vocabularies for things important in daily island life, etc.

TOPICS

The phrasebook is intuitively organized and is easy to use. Each language section has phrases dealing with the following topics: greetings and civilities, small talk, getting around, accommodation, food, health, and local holidays. There are wordlists for parts of the body, dress, family relations, food and drinks, places, cultural vocabulary, land animals, sea animals, occupations, time, tools, transportation, weather and the ocean. There are also lists of commonly used adjectives and prepositions.

METHODOLOGY

The words and phrases were compiled in hundreds of interviews with native speakers and checked by local linguists. As the first step in the making of this phrasebook, we distributed blank forms with words and phrases in English to students at the University of Guam who are native speakers of a particular Micronesian language and were willing to help in the project. The feedback was compiled and cross-checked and preliminary word and phrase lists were drawn up. The material was then shared with other native speakers who were asked to check and comment on it. Revised copies were checked and re-checked until sufficiently error-free versions were ontained. This way, material for each language was verified by at least three native speakers, and in some instances up to ten. After that, we contacted native speakers who have had linguistic training or are highly literate in their own language and asked them to scrutinize the final drafts. The words and phrases were then updated based on the final corrections, at which point we accepted them as highly accurate.

ACCURATE SPELLING

Orthography has been an important consideration. Aware that most Micronesian languages are written rather arbitrarily in every day life and that their speakers are rarely familiar with orthographic rules, we have paid extreme attention to the correctness of spelling. By working hard to conform to standard spelling rules for each language, we are hoping to contribute to native language literacy in the region and promote the written use of local languages.

We are currently looking for a publisher for the Micronesian Phrasebook. Please contact us.