A linguist from the University of Hawaii at Manoa says scientists have a lot to learn from Pacific languages.
Peter Shuelke is in Solomon Islands this month as part of an ongoing study of Roviana, a language from the Western Province.
Mr Shuelke says Roviana contains a cluster of unique features that defies established linguistic theory.
He says there is a need to document and preserve languages across the Pacific.
Peter Shuelke spoke with our reporter Koroi Hawkins, a native Roviana speaker, who began by asking him how he learned about the language.
A traditional war canoe, Tomoko, from Roviana in the Western Solomons participates in the Pacific flotilla at the opening of the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in Honiara. June 2012 Photo: Koroi Hawkins
