「世界最小の音素数を持つ言語、ロトカス語」

"Rotokas: The Language with the World's Smallest Phoneme Inventory"

ロトカス語は、パプアニューギニアのブーゲンビル島で話される言語で、わずか12の音素しか持たない世界で最も少ない音素数を誇る言語の一つです。その簡素な音素システムは、言語学的に非常に興味深い研究対象となっています。

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Rotokas is

a language

spoken in

central Bougainville Island,

Papua New Guinea,

and is known

for having

one of the smallest

phoneme inventories

in the world.

The language features

a remarkably simple

phoneme system,

consisting of

only 12 phonemes:

six consonants

(p, t, k, b, d, g)

and five vowels

(i, e, a, o, u).

This minimal phoneme count

places Rotokas

alongside Pirahã

as one of the languages

with the fewest phonemes

globally.

The simplicity of

its phoneme system

makes Rotokas

a fascinating subject

for linguistic research,

demonstrating the flexibility

of human language capabilities.

Despite its linguistic significance,

Rotokas is endangered,

with approximately 4,320 speakers

recorded in 1981,

though the current number

of speakers is unknown.

Preserving linguistic diversity

is crucial for

maintaining cultural heritage,

and Rotokas stands

as a testament to

the adaptability of

human communication.

The language belongs to

the East Papuan language family,

specifically the Bougainville subgroup,

and is closely related to

Kunua and Keriaka languages.

The geographical location

of Bougainville Island

has likely influenced

the development and characteristics

of Rotokas,

which has evolved

its unique phoneme system

over time.

Further research is needed

to fully understand

the historical development

and relationships of Rotokas

with other languages.

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by F_chika
作成:2024/09/10 09:47
レベル:中上級 (語彙目安:4000〜6000語)

# 「世界最小の音素数を持つ言語、ロトカス語」
## "Rotokas: The Language with the World's Smallest Phoneme Inventory"

![thumbnail](https://eigobox.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/g/c004e7710c64b5f26f436e4a4c458ae50398bae5.png)

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Rotokas is a language spoken in central Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea, and is known for having one of the smallest phoneme inventories in the world. The language features a remarkably simple phoneme system, consisting of only 12 phonemes: six consonants (p, t, k, b, d, g) and five vowels (i, e, a, o, u). This minimal phoneme count places Rotokas alongside Pirahã as one of the languages with the fewest phonemes globally. The simplicity of its phoneme system makes Rotokas a fascinating subject for linguistic research, demonstrating the flexibility of human language capabilities. Despite its linguistic significance, Rotokas is endangered, with approximately 4,320 speakers recorded in 1981, though the current number of speakers is unknown. Preserving linguistic diversity is crucial for maintaining cultural heritage, and Rotokas stands as a testament to the adaptability of human communication. The language belongs to the East Papuan language family, specifically the Bougainville subgroup, and is closely related to Kunua and Keriaka languages. The geographical location of Bougainville Island has likely influenced the development and characteristics of Rotokas, which has evolved its unique phoneme system over time. Further research is needed to fully understand the historical development and relationships of Rotokas with other languages.

---

ロトカス語は、パプアニューギニアのブーゲンビル島中部で話されている言語で、世界で最も少ない音素数を持つ言語の一つとして知られています。この言語は、非常に簡素な音素システムを特徴としており、音素はわずか12個（子音6個：p, t, k, b, d, g、母音5個：i, e, a, o, u）しかありません。この少ない音素数は、ロトカス語をピダハン語と並んで世界で最も音素数が少ない言語の一つに位置づけています。この音素システムの簡素さは、ロトカス語を言語学研究の興味深い対象とし、人間の言語能力の柔軟性を示しています。ロトカス語は1981年に約4,320人の話者が記録されましたが、現在の話者数は不明であり、絶滅の危機に瀕しています。言語の多様性を保護することは文化遺産を守る上で重要であり、ロトカス語は人間のコミュニケーションの適応性を示す証拠となっています。この言語は東パプア語族、特にブーゲンビル語群に属し、クヌア語やケリアカ語と密接な関係にあります。ブーゲンビル島の地理的位置は、ロトカス語の発展と特徴に影響を与えた可能性があり、この独自の音素システムは時間をかけて進化してきたものと考えられます。ロトカス語の歴史的発展と他の言語との関係を完全に理解するためには、さらなる研究が必要です。