Editing Marquesan language (section)

==Dialect diversity==
North Marquesan is spoken in the northern islands ([[Nuku Hiva]], [[Ua Pou]], and [[Ua Huka]]), and South Marquesan in the southern islands ([[Hiva Oa]], [[Tahuata]], and [[Fatu Hiva]]). In Ua Huka, which was almost entirely depopulated in the 19th century and repopulated with people from both the Northern and Southern Marquesas, the language shares traits of both North Marquesan and South Marquesan. Comparative data on the various dialects of Marquesan can be found in the ''Linguistic Atlas of French Polynesia'' ([[#atlas|Charpentier & François 2015]]).<ref name="sounds">For regular sound correspondences between Marquesan dialects and other Polynesian languages, see [[#atlas|Charpentier & François (2015)]], p.93.</ref>

The most noticeable differences between the varieties are Northern Marquesan {{IPA|/k/}} in some words where South Marquesan has {{IPA|/n/}} or {{IPA|/ʔ/}} (glottal stop), and {{IPA|/h/}} in all words where South Marquesan has {{IPA|/f/}}.

The table below compares a selection of words in various dialectal varieties of Marquesan, according to the ''Linguistic Atlas of French Polynesia'',<ref>The authors of the ''Linguistic Atlas of French Polynesia'' judged the variety spoken on Tahuata to be too similar to Hiva Oa's to form a separate survey point.</ref> with their pronunciation in the [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]. Tahitian and Hawaiian are also added for comparison.

{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
! !! colspan=3|North Marquesan !! colspan=2|South Marquesan !! [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]] !! [[Tahitian language|Tahitian]]
|-
! !! [[Nuku Hiva]] !! [[Ua Pou]] !! [[Ua Huka]] !! [[Hiva Oa]] !! [[Fatu Hiva]]  !! [[Hawaii]] !! [[Tahiti]]
|-
| hello || {{IPA|/kaːʔoha/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/kaːʔoha/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/kaːʔoha/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/kaːʔoha/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/kaːʔoha/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/aloha/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/ʔia ora na/|lang=ty}}<br/><small>({{IPA|/arofa/|lang=ty}} 'love, compassion')</small> 
|-
| human being || {{IPA|/ʔenana/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/ʔenana/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/ʔenana/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/ʔenata/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/ʔenata/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/kanaka/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/taʔata/|lang=ty}}
|-
| life || {{IPA|/pohuʔe/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/pohuʔe/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/pohuʔe/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/pohoʔe/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/pohoʔe/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/ola/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/ora/|lang=ty}}
|-
| body || {{IPA|/nino/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/nino/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/tino/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/tino/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/tino/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/kino/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/tino/|lang=ty}}
|-
| mouth || {{IPA|/haha/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/haha/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/haha/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/fafa/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/fafa/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/waha/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/vaha/|lang=ty}}
|-
| head || {{IPA|/upoko/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/upoko/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/upoko/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/upoʔo/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/upoʔo/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/poʔo/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/upoʔo/|lang=ty}}
|-
| to see || {{IPA|/ʔite/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/kite/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/ʔite/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/ʔite/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/ʔite/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/ʔike/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/ʔite/|lang=ty}}
|-
| to speak || {{IPA|/tekao/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/tekao/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/tekao/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/teʔao/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/teʔao/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/ʔoːlelo/|lang=haw}}<br/><small>({{IPA|/kaʔao/|lang=haw}} 'to tell tales')</small> || {{IPA|/parau/|lang=ty}}  
|-
| dog || {{IPA|/peto/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/peto/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/peto/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/nuhe/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/nuhe/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/ʔiːlio/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/ʔuːri/|lang=ty}}
|-
| louse || {{IPA|/kutu/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/kutu/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/kutu/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/ʔutu/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/ʔutu/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/ʔuku/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/ʔutu/|lang=ty}}
|-
| yesterday || {{IPA|/tinahi/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/nenahi/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/tinahi/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/tinahi/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/tinahi/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/nehinei/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/inaːnahi/|lang=ty}}  
|-
| sky || {{IPA|/ʔaki/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/ʔaki/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/ʔani/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/ʔani/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/ʔani/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/lani/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/raʔi/|lang=ty}}
|-
| moon || {{IPA|/meama/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/meama/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/mahina/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/mahina/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/mahina/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/mahina/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/ʔaːvaʔe/|lang=ty}}  
|-
| wind || {{IPA|/metaki/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/metaki/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/metani/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/metani/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/metani/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/makani/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/mataʔi/|lang=ty}}
|-
| sea || {{IPA|/tai/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/tai/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/tai/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/tai/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/tai/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/kai/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/miti/|lang=ty}}<br/><small>({{IPA|/tai/|lang=ty}} 'sea, salt')</small>
|-
| coral || {{IPA|/puka/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/puka/|lang=mrq}} ||  {{IPA|/puna/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/feʔeo/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/feʔeo/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/koʔa/|lang=haw}}<br/><small>({{IPA|/puna/|lang=haw}} 'plaster, mortar')</small> || {{IPA|/puʔa/|lang=ty}}  
|-
| fish || {{IPA|/ika/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/ika/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/ika/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/iʔa/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/iʔa/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/iʔa/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/iʔa/|lang=ty}}
|-
| octopus || {{IPA|/heke/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/heke/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/heke/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/feʔe/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/feʔe/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/heʔe/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/feʔe/|lang=ty}} 
|-
| island, land || {{IPA|/henua/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/henua/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/henua/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/fenua/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/fenua/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/honua/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/fenua/|lang=ty}}
|-
| river || {{IPA|/kaʔavai/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/kaʔavai/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/kaʔavai/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/kaʔavai/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/kaʔavai/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/kahawai/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/ʔaːnaːvai/|lang=ty}}
|-
| [[taro]] || {{IPA|/taʔo/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/taʔo/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/taʔo/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/taʔo/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/taʔo/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/kalo/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/taro/|lang=ty}}
|-
| coconut || {{IPA|/ʔehi/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/ʔehi/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/ʔehi/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/ʔeʔehi/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/ʔeʔehi/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/niu/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/haʔari/|lang=ty}}
|-
| house || {{IPA|/haʔe/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/haʔe/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/haʔe/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/faʔe/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/faʔe/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/hale/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/fare/|lang=ty}}
|-
| man (male) || {{IPA|/vahana/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/vahana/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/vahana/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/ʔahana/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/ʔahana/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/kaːne/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/taːne/|lang=ty}}
|-
| woman || {{IPA|/vehine/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/vehine/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/vehine/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/vehine/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/vehine/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/wahine/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/vahine/|lang=ty}}
|-
| grandmother || {{IPA|/tupuna kui/|lang=mrq}}<br/><small>('grandparent mother')</small> || {{IPA|/tupuna kui|lang=mrq}}/<br/><small>('grandparent mother')</small> || {{IPA|/tupuna kui/|lang=mrq}}<br/><small>('grandparent mother')</small> || {{IPA|/tupuna vehine/|lang=mqm}}<br/><small>('grandparent woman')</small> || {{IPA|/tupuna vehine/|lang=mqm}}<br/><small>('grandparent woman')</small> || {{IPA|/kupuna wahine/|lang=haw}}<br/><small>('grandparent woman')</small> || {{IPA|/maːmaː ruːʔau/|lang=ty}}<br/><small>('mom old person')</small> 
|-
| chief, king || {{IPA|/hakaʔiki/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/hakaʔiki/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/hakaʔiki/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/hakaʔiki/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/hakaʔiki/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/aliʔi/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/ariʔi/|lang=ty}}
|-
| traditional temple<br>precinct, [[marae]] || {{IPA|/meʔae/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/meʔae/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/meʔae/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/meʔae/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/paepae/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/heiau/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/marae/|lang=ty}}
|-
| you (singular) || {{IPA|/ʔoe/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/koe/|lang=mrq}} || {{IPA|/ʔoe/|lang=mrq}}  || {{IPA|/ʔoe/|lang=mqm}}  || {{IPA|/ʔoe/|lang=mqm}} || {{IPA|/ʔoe/|lang=haw}} || {{IPA|/ʔoe/|lang=ty}}
|}

The northern dialects fall roughly into four groups:

* Tai Pi, spoken in the eastern third of [[Nuku Hiva]], and according to some linguists, a separate language,{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}} [[Tai Pi Marquesan language|Tai Pi Marquesan]]
* Teiʻi, spoken in western [[Nuku Hiva]]
* Eastern [[Ua Pou]]
* Western [[Ua Pou]]

The southern dialects fall roughly into three groups:

* Pepane: Eastern [[Hiva Oa|Hiva ʻOa]] and [[Ua Huka]]
* [[Fatu Hiva]]
* Nuku: Western Hiva ʻOa and [[Tahuata]]

North Marquesan exhibits some original characteristics. While some Polynesian languages maintained the velar nasal {{IPA|/ŋ/}}, many have lost the distinction between the nasals {{IPA|/ŋ/}} and {{IPA|/n/}}, merging both into {{IPA|/n/}}. North Marquesan, like [[South Island]] [[Māori language|Māori]] dialects of New Zealand, prefers {{IPA|/k/}}. Another feature is that, while some Polynesian languages replace *k with {{IPA|/ʔ/}}, North Marquesan has retained it. ([[Tahitian language|Tahitian]] and formal [[Samoan language|Samoan]] have no {{IPA|/k/}} whatsoever, and the {{IPA|/k/}} in modern Hawaiian is pronounced either [k] or [t] and derives from Polynesian *t.)

The dialects of [[Ua Huka]] are often incorrectly classified as North Marquesan; they are instead transitional. While the island is in the northern Marquesas group, the dialects show more morphological and phonological affinities with South Marquesan. The North Marquesan dialects are sometimes considered two separate languages:{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}} North Marquesan and [[Tai Pi Marquesan language|Tai Pi Marquesan]], the latter being spoken in the valleys of the eastern third of the island of Nuku Hiva, in the ancient province of [[Tai Pi (province)|Tai Pi]]. Puka-Pukan, spoken in [[Puka-Puka]] and the [[Disappointment Islands]] in northeastern [[Tuamotu]], is a dialect of South Marquesan, and should not be confused with the homonymous [[Pukapukan language]] spoken in [[Pukapuka]], one of the [[Cook Islands]].