Mono-Alu

Mono-Alu, also known as Mono, is an Austronesian language spoken by around 6,000 people on the islands of Mono, Alu, and Fauro in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. It is the primary language of the islands of Mono and Alu in the Treasury Islands, as well as Fauro Island in the Shortland Islands.

The language area is located in the northwestern part of the Solomon Islands, south and southeast of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea. The communities are often collectively referred to as FAMOA, representing Fauro, Mono, and Alu Islands.

While the 1999 census reported 2,944 speakers, research informed by community reports suggests a significantly higher population than previously thought. The total number of speakers was estimated to exceed 5,000 in 2020, with approximately 3,000 speakers on Alu Island, 1,500 on Fauro Island, and 800 on Mono Island, as well as diaspora communities in Honiara and other islands in the Western Province. The language is the primary language spoken on the islands along with Pijin.

From Wikipedia · Mono-Alu language · CC BY-SA 4.0