Reconstruction:Proto-Nuclear Polynesian/Sawaiki

This Proto-Nuclear Polynesian entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

• IPA^(key): /sa.waˈi.ki/

*Sawaiki^[1]

1. homeland

• Proto-Eastern Polynesian:
  • Marquesic:
    • Hawaiian: Hawaiʻi
      • → Chinook Jargon: oihe (or via English)
      • → English: Hawaii, Hawaiʻi, Hawai'i, Hawai`i
    • South Marquesan: Havaiki
  • Tahitic:
    • Maori: Hawaiki
      • → English: Hawaiki
  • Samoic-Outlier
    • Samoic:
      • Samoan: Savai'i
        • → English: Savai'i
• → Niuean: Avaiki (?) – see below
• → Tongan: Savaiki

This term has attracted great interest on account of it being a linguistic record of the Polynesian migrations and perhaps the name of the homeland of the Lapita people. However, Pollex (below) and other sources believe it to be Proto-Nuclear-Polynesian, the grouping that contains most of the Polynesian languages, after they split off from Tongan and Niuean. Determining this may never be possible, as it depends in part on verifying the Niuean placename Avaiki (see Unilang, below).

• Pollex database (listed as Proto-Nuclear-Polynesian)
• Unilang discussion about whether or not it is Proto-Polynesian