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Let’s learn about Marshallese! We’ve gathered some background information and interesting facts about the language. Check out our newest children’s books available in Marshallese.
Where Is Marshallese Spoken?
Marshallese, known locally as Kajin M̧ajeļ, is the official language of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, a Micronesian country in the North Pacific Ocean. Approximately 40,000 people, the majority of the population, speak Marshallese, with English being the second official language.
Marshallese is a member of the Malayo-Polynesian subgroup of the Austronesian family of languages, resulting from migration from Southeast Asia around 2000 BC.
Marshallese in the United States
There are approximately 27,000 Marshallese speakers in the United States, most of whom reside in Hawaii and Arkansas. There are smaller Marshallese-speaking communities in Washington, California, and Michigan.
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Interesting Facts About Marshallese
The Marshall Islands is a nation comprising more than 1,200 islands and islets in two parallel chains of atolls in the Pacific Ocean. The atolls are divided into two main chains: the Ratak Chain to the east and the Ralik Chain to the west. Each chain has its own dialect, with the main differences being vocabulary and consonant placement.
Marshallese is known for its unique sounds and complex grammar. For example, the language has an elaborate set of verbs related to motion that denote whether an action is incoming, outgoing, or static.
Due to trade, colonization, and military presence throughout its history, the Marshallese language has many borrowed words and phrases from different languages, including English, Japanese, and Spanish.
Marshallese is not only a means of communication but also a reflection of the identity and history of the Marshallese people, as it carries traditional stories, folklore, and values that have been passed down through generations.
Marshallese Books – Bilingual Children’s Books
If you interact with children who speak Marshallese or are learning the language, you may want suggestions for some fun and engaging bilingual children’s books. Language Lizard offers several books with English and Marshallese text that will appeal to readers of all ages.
Are you interested in learning about other languages? Check out our Language Spotlight series on world languages, including Kinyarwanda, Tigrinya, Hmong, Cherokee, Hindi, Dari, Pashto, and Ukrainian.