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'Are'are is just one of seventy-one spoken languages in the Soloman Islands. It is estimated that there are at least seven dialects of 'Are'Are that are used by its speakers. Some of the known dialects are Are, Aiaisii, Woo, I'iaa, Tarapaina, Mareho and Marau; however, the written resources on the difference between dialects are rare; with no technical written standard. There are few known resources that distinguish vocabulary items in the 'Are'Are language. Currently, a written standard has yet to be established and the only official document on the language is the 'Are'Are dictionary written by Peter Geerts. However, the 'Are'Are dictionary fails to explain pronunciation, sound systems or the grammar of the language. This article will go on to discuss the history of the 'Are'Are culture as well as detailing out some aspects of their culture. The article will also divulge into some of the phonological process, as well as the an outline of the grammar.

The 'Are'are People
The 'Are'Are are an ethnically Melanesian people that had up to 18,000 native speakers as of 1999 which was a steep increase from the 9,000 native speakers that were recorded in 1993 by John Houainamo Naitoro. According to census conducted by the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office; the total population of the islands rose from 285,176 in 1986 to 515,870 people in 2009. However, the 'Are'Are language does not encompass the entirety of the Islands. Rather, most of the speaker population is limited to the southern side of the Malaita island as well as the capital Honiara on the island of Guadalcanal. The 'Are'Are are traditionally a religious people and although they are mostly a Christian culture now, the 'Are still place a large importance on the connection between ancestors and the land around them. Burial grounds are viewed to be closely related both spiritually and in terms of "ancestral power". The culture of the 'Are'Are people is traditionally passed down orally through myths and other stories which is why has been difficult to keep record of all aspects of their beliefs and language. However, steps have been taken by the Wairokai Translation Committee to establish a written standard that can later be implemented into the 'Are'Are school curriculum.

Musical Culture
The 'Are'Are people in the Solomon Islands place a large emphasis on music. In fact, most of the 'Are'Are people recognize at least 20 different musical types. The 'Are'Are refer to musical instruments using the lexeme 'au, which has different meaning  depending on the context used. At the root level 'au means "bamboo" which contrasts with other plants. For example when one refers to a "tree" the word 'ai is used. Since the meaning of the lexeme au changes based on context, 'au might also mean "musical instruments (of bamboo)" depending the utilization of that specific product. Since words within the 'Are'Are language have such ambiguity it can often be difficult to translate the meaning completely accurately. Currently the 'Are'Are recognize 10 different types of 'au or "bamboo" instruments, this recognition happens by combining the root 'au with one or two words that follow it.

Plosive
The plosives of this language are "p, t, k, ʔ", which are all voiceless and unaspirated which means that small differences drastically affect the meaning of a word.

Examples: paɾa- "be white", "fishook"

taɾa- "road"

kaɾa piakau- "cassava pudding"

Nasals
the examples below represent the contrast between the two nasals which are "m, n"

Ex: maɾa- "be ashamed"

naɾa- "cry"

Tap
The tap /ɾ/ is usually combined in minimal pairs along with other alveolar sounds

Examples: "ɾ, s"

maɾika- "fish"

masika- "to be small"

"ɾ, t"

ɾaɾo- sky

ɾato- sun

Fricatives
The examples below are minimal pairs that show how the voiceless fricatives "s, h"

Ex: ɾasu- "smoke"

ɾahu- "to be old"

Approximate
The the tap "ɾ", the nasal "m" are usually combined with the approximate "w"

Examples: "w, ɾ"

ɾaɾaha- "thigh"

wawaha- "cloud, mist"

"w, m"

waʔi- "hurt"

maʔimaʔi- "basket"

Short and long vowels in 'Are'are
The 'Are'Are language has a five vowel system which uses the letters "i, e, a, u, o". The length of these vowels are contrastive meaning that minimal differences show the contrast between words.

Examples:

" i, i: "

isu- "move"

i:su- "count, read"

"e, e:"

tete- "pebble"

te:te: - "mother"

" a, a: "

ma:sika- "worm"

masika- "small"

" o, o: "

o:to- "meet"

oto- "throw, spear"

" u, u: "

u:tə- "rain"

ʔuta:- "what"

Tense
Research provided by Katerina Naitoro, has shown that the 'Are'are language has a basic tense form that distinguishes between future and non-future. The tense is used to tie situations to a specific point in time so the following structure is recognized.

The future tense is marked in all types of predicates but the non-future is unmarked

Non-verbal clauses can be used in non-future but not in future

There is also non-future and future distinction in negation. For example, the non-future is negated with the preverbal particle "ma" whereas the particle "si" is used for future negation.

Nouns
Nouns in the 'Are'are language are divided into the following categories:


 * 1) Common and proper nouns
 * 2) Count and mass nouns
 * 3) Directly and indirectly possessed nouns

Since 'Are'are lexical categories are not distinguished morphologically, the position they occupy is necessary to determine their function in a sentence. For example, the noun, "rae'areha" means "learned knowledge". However the root of this word comes from the verb rae-'are which translates to "to be knowledgeable". But the individual components "rae" and "are" can function as separate lexemes. Rae translates as "to know" and "are" translates to "thing".

Pronouns
The 'Are'are language establishes a range of personal, possessive and relative pronouns that can be used to reference both inanimate and animate objects. Pronouns are also distinguished by singular, dual, and plural number. These dual and plural pronouns are also representative of inclusive and exclusive categories. Inclusive pronouns will include the addressee in the group whereas Exclusive pronouns only reference the speaker.

Verbs
Verbs in the 'Are'are language don't show agreement with the subject and instead of using verbal inflection, preverbal particles are used to express tense. The subject is usually expressed by a noun phrase and independent pronoun which can be followed with a subject markers; which is an independent form and not a verbal prefix.

The following are the three categories that distinguish the difference between verbs:


 * 1) Strictly intransitive
 * 2) Strictly transitive
 * 3) ambitransitive