1. Community and documentary identity

ANLHE New Ireland and Solomon Islands classification audit (November 2026): Marovo belongs to the New Georgia region’s Oceanic languages and is sometimes discussed with the Vangunu varieties; these regional labels must be interpreted according to the source’s subdivision. Comparative evidence places Marovo in a related but distinct group from Roviana and Hoava. It is inappropriate to copy a neighboring language’s lexical or grammatical paradigms without attested Marovo documentation. Comparative language documentation.

Marovo is associated with Marovo Lagoon, Vangunu and Nggatokae, Solomon Islands. ISO 639-3: mvo. The language’s history must be distinguished from scholarly documentation dates. Edvard Hviding compiled an environmental Marovo dictionary in 1990, explored place, politics and cultural ecology in Guardians of Marovo Lagoon (1996), and produced further environmental encyclopedia work in 2005. ABVD’s comparative Marovo lexical sample draws on Tryon and Hackman (1983). These documents offer rich ecology and social context, but a historical fieldnote cannot serve as a current population census.

2. Orthography, phonology and source fidelity

Hviding’s text discusses pronunciation and spelling. ABVD’s comparative forms also use phonetic notation, which must not be substituted for ordinary community orthography. The presence of Roman letters in scholarly transcription does not prove a precontact alphabet.

3. Grammar and original source analysis

A regional description reports verb-subject-object word order; students should verify a full clause before generalizing it. The environmental corpus is especially rich in lexical semantics, but does not alone substantiate an invented complete set of pronominal or verbal paradigms.

4. Lexical evidence and metadata

The forms below are limited source-attested examples or explicitly labeled catalog metadata; they are not a complete native-language phrasebook.

• lima-: hand in ABVD
• hɛnde: left in ABVD phonetic notation
• matao: right in ABVD

Never generate unattested sentences by recombining headwords.

5. Social and cultural interpretation

undefined Historic fieldwork is not a current demographic census, and attributed narratives may require permission for reproduction.

6. Research sources

1. ABVD Marovo lexicon. https://abvd.eva.mpg.de/austronesian/language.php?id=87
2. Surrey Morphology Group, bibliography of Marovo sources. https://www.smg.surrey.ac.uk/languages/northwest-solomonic/bibliography/new-georgia/
3. Solomon Islands historical encyclopedia, Marovo Lagoon. https://www.solomonencyclopaedia.net/biogs/E000188b.htm

Each fuller lesson must add page, entry or recording references.

7. Specific research themes

1. Marovo Lagoon and its settlements
2. Tryon and Hackman 1983
3. Hviding’s 1990 environmental dictionary
4. Hviding’s 1996 ethnography
5. 2005 environmental encyclopedia
6. reef and marine ecology
7. rainforest terminology
8. coastal navigation
9. regional language contact
10. original-source glossary use

8. Ninety-lesson research framework

Nine thematic modules of ten lessons each lead from primary-source reading to linguistics and responsible language documentation. Every lesson has a topic, its language-specific focus, and a verification assignment.

Module 1: Identity, chronology and communities — Lessons 1 to 10

Documentary anchor: Marovo Lagoon and its settlements. Each exercise demands linguistic specificity and verifiable source attribution.

1. Lesson 1: Names and geographic distribution — Marovo Lagoon and its settlements. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
2. Lesson 2: Subgroup classification — Tryon and Hackman 1983. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
3. Lesson 3: Independent language identity — Hviding’s 1990 environmental dictionary. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
4. Lesson 4: Research publication chronology — Hviding’s 1996 ethnography. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
5. Lesson 5: Original field collection — 2005 environmental encyclopedia. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
6. Lesson 6: Dictionary and lexical editions — reef and marine ecology. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
7. Lesson 7: Community scholarship — rainforest terminology. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
8. Lesson 8: Historical contact context — coastal navigation. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
9. Lesson 9: Source genre limitations — regional language contact. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
10. Lesson 10: Bibliographic assessment — original-source glossary use. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.

Module 2: Sound system and orthography — Lessons 11 to 20

Documentary anchor: Tryon and Hackman 1983. Each exercise demands linguistic specificity and verifiable source attribution.

11. Lesson 11: Written symbols and citations — Tryon and Hackman 1983. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
12. Lesson 12: Consonants in source editions — Hviding’s 1990 environmental dictionary. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
13. Lesson 13: Vowels and vocalic qualities — Hviding’s 1996 ethnography. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
14. Lesson 14: Syllable structures — 2005 environmental encyclopedia. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
15. Lesson 15: Stress and prosody — reef and marine ecology. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
16. Lesson 16: Phonation and length if attested — rainforest terminology. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
17. Lesson 17: Orthography across generations — coastal navigation. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
18. Lesson 18: Linguistic IPA — regional language contact. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
19. Lesson 19: Audio transcription — original-source glossary use. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
20. Lesson 20: Source-based pronunciation portfolio — Marovo Lagoon and its settlements. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.

Module 3: Source lexicon and ecological vocabulary — Lessons 21 to 30

Documentary anchor: Hviding’s 1990 environmental dictionary. Each exercise demands linguistic specificity and verifiable source attribution.

21. Lesson 21: Dictionary entry provenance — Hviding’s 1990 environmental dictionary. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
22. Lesson 22: Kinship terms — Hviding’s 1996 ethnography. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
23. Lesson 23: Body-related words — 2005 environmental encyclopedia. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
24. Lesson 24: Forest and plant terms — reef and marine ecology. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
25. Lesson 25: Marine ecology terms — rainforest terminology. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
26. Lesson 26: Foods and farming — coastal navigation. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
27. Lesson 27: Motion expressions — regional language contact. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
28. Lesson 28: Counting and number forms — original-source glossary use. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
29. Lesson 29: Borrowing and semantic change — Marovo Lagoon and its settlements. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
30. Lesson 30: Ten-source-entry portfolio — Tryon and Hackman 1983. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.

Module 4: Pronouns and nominal structure — Lessons 31 to 40

Documentary anchor: Hviding’s 1996 ethnography. Each exercise demands linguistic specificity and verifiable source attribution.

31. Lesson 31: Nouns and noun phrases — Hviding’s 1996 ethnography. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
32. Lesson 32: Person reference — 2005 environmental encyclopedia. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
33. Lesson 33: Singular and plural forms — reef and marine ecology. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
34. Lesson 34: Other grammatical number if attested — rainforest terminology. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
35. Lesson 35: Articles and reference — coastal navigation. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
36. Lesson 36: Demonstratives — regional language contact. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
37. Lesson 37: Possession structures — original-source glossary use. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
38. Lesson 38: Relational markers — Marovo Lagoon and its settlements. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
39. Lesson 39: Nominal modifiers — Tryon and Hackman 1983. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
40. Lesson 40: Cited noun phrase analysis — Hviding’s 1990 environmental dictionary. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.

Module 5: Verb grammar and syntax — Lessons 41 to 50

Documentary anchor: 2005 environmental encyclopedia. Each exercise demands linguistic specificity and verifiable source attribution.

41. Lesson 41: Verb class inventory — 2005 environmental encyclopedia. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
42. Lesson 42: Argument structure — reef and marine ecology. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
43. Lesson 43: Transitive constructions — rainforest terminology. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
44. Lesson 44: Tense evidence — coastal navigation. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
45. Lesson 45: Aspect and mood — regional language contact. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
46. Lesson 46: Negation — original-source glossary use. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
47. Lesson 47: Questions and commands — Marovo Lagoon and its settlements. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
48. Lesson 48: Serial verb constructions — Tryon and Hackman 1983. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
49. Lesson 49: Clause organization — Hviding’s 1990 environmental dictionary. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
50. Lesson 50: Original clause annotation — Hviding’s 1996 ethnography. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.

Module 6: Original texts and translation — Lessons 51 to 60

Documentary anchor: reef and marine ecology. Each exercise demands linguistic specificity and verifiable source attribution.

51. Lesson 51: Source text acquisition — reef and marine ecology. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
52. Lesson 52: Speaker and collector — rainforest terminology. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
53. Lesson 53: Exact source transcription — coastal navigation. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
54. Lesson 54: Word segmentation — regional language contact. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
55. Lesson 55: Grammatical glosses — original-source glossary use. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
56. Lesson 56: Literal translation — Marovo Lagoon and its settlements. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
57. Lesson 57: Contextual translation — Tryon and Hackman 1983. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
58. Lesson 58: Discourse structure — Hviding’s 1990 environmental dictionary. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
59. Lesson 59: Narrative interpretation — Hviding’s 1996 ethnography. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
60. Lesson 60: Critical original-text commentary — 2005 environmental encyclopedia. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.

Module 7: Comparative linguistics and contact — Lessons 61 to 70

Documentary anchor: rainforest terminology. Each exercise demands linguistic specificity and verifiable source attribution.

61. Lesson 61: Historical relationship — rainforest terminology. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
62. Lesson 62: Cognate verification — coastal navigation. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
63. Lesson 63: Sound change — regional language contact. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
64. Lesson 64: Contact borrowing — original-source glossary use. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
65. Lesson 65: Local varieties — Marovo Lagoon and its settlements. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
66. Lesson 66: Comparative grammar — Tryon and Hackman 1983. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
67. Lesson 67: Earlier and later sources — Hviding’s 1990 environmental dictionary. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
68. Lesson 68: Source interpretation disputes — Hviding’s 1996 ethnography. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
69. Lesson 69: Uncertain reconstructions — 2005 environmental encyclopedia. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
70. Lesson 70: Comparative mini-study — reef and marine ecology. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.

Module 8: Language transmission and ethics — Lessons 71 to 80

Documentary anchor: coastal navigation. Each exercise demands linguistic specificity and verifiable source attribution.

71. Lesson 71: Community leadership — coastal navigation. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
72. Lesson 72: Knowledge and place names — regional language contact. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
73. Lesson 73: Oral tradition — original-source glossary use. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
74. Lesson 74: Ecological traditions — Marovo Lagoon and its settlements. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
75. Lesson 75: Language in everyday life — Tryon and Hackman 1983. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
76. Lesson 76: Multilingual settings — Hviding’s 1990 environmental dictionary. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
77. Lesson 77: Recording permissions — Hviding’s 1996 ethnography. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
78. Lesson 78: Archival restrictions — 2005 environmental encyclopedia. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
79. Lesson 79: Speaker attribution — reef and marine ecology. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
80. Lesson 80: Community-reviewed education — rainforest terminology. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.

Module 9: Advanced documentary portfolio — Lessons 81 to 90

Documentary anchor: regional language contact. Each exercise demands linguistic specificity and verifiable source attribution.

81. Lesson 81: Annotated bibliography — regional language contact. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
82. Lesson 82: Phonology notebook — original-source glossary use. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
83. Lesson 83: Orthographic concordance — Marovo Lagoon and its settlements. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
84. Lesson 84: Verified lexical notebook — Tryon and Hackman 1983. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
85. Lesson 85: Nominal research note — Hviding’s 1990 environmental dictionary. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
86. Lesson 86: Verbal research note — Hviding’s 1996 ethnography. Compare alternative analyses in the historical sources, explicitly retaining community names and source-specific transcription. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
87. Lesson 87: Annotated text passage — 2005 environmental encyclopedia. Document a speaker- or archive-verification step where existing evidence does not establish the proposed form. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
88. Lesson 88: Historical comparison — reef and marine ecology. Locate the corresponding original-language witness and note the exact edition, page, timestamp or database entry before interpreting any example. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
89. Lesson 89: Ethical documentation plan — rainforest terminology. Evaluate the linguistic claim against primary evidence, distinguishing a documented pattern from a typological expectation. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.
90. Lesson 90: Final source-grounded synthesis — coastal navigation. Create an annotated table with original spelling, translation, source date and any unresolved phonological or grammatical question. Assessment: original source note, independent interpretation and explicitly recorded limits.

9. Editorial boundaries

This is a documented encyclopedia profile with ninety distinct research objectives. No unsupported quotation, imaginary ancient alphabet, invented local phrase or unverified speaker count is certified as fact. Finished language lessons require direct source checking and, where possible, community review.