Niuean (ko e vagahau Niuē)
Niuean is a Polynesian language spoken by about 8,000 people, the
majority of whom live in New Zealand. There are also Niuean speakers
in Niue, where almost the entire population of about 2,000 speak the
language, the Cook Islands and Tonga. The closest relative of Niuean
is Tongan, while Maori, Samoan, and Hawaiian are also quite close.
Niuean was first write by Christian missionaries in the mid 19th
century using a spelling system influenced by Samoan.
Niuean alphabet
Niuean pronunciation
Notes
- t is pronounced [s] before e and i
- r and s appear only in foreign loanwords
- You can hear recordings of Niuean pronunciation at:
http://www.learnniue.com/vagahau
Sample text in Niuean
Pa pa teliga e, tuku teliga e
Pa pa teliga e, tuku teliga ko
Foaki mai a kala pule
Ke oage e tau fanau
Ke kai e tau futi momoho
Neke oti he mokulu ki tahi
Ko pule, ko pule
Taga niu e
Source: http://www.learnniue.com/vagahau
Links
Information about the Niuean languages
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niuean_language
Vagahau Niue – online Niuean lessons
http://learnniue.com/vagahau/
Information about Niue
http://www.niueisland.com
Online Niuean radio
http://www.rnzi.com/pages/audio.php