I heard an interview on National Public Radio last night with a resident of the tiny island nation of Tuvalu, near New Zealand. The story focused on the rising sea forcing the residents to leave. New Zealand is going to take them in. Now that's a story in itself, to be sure (who ever heard of this place before?) but what struck me especially was that this Tuvaluan's accent was hardly an accent at all (to this American's ears). I understood him perfectly, better than I can understand some folks from small burgs in Scotland or even remote towns in the US deep South. This gobsmacks me and I was hoping some of y'all (especially CapK and Max) could listen to the interview and comment on it. Once I figure out how to listen to radio on my brand spankin new Mac, I want to hear it again, too. I can't remember if he had an opportunity to use a du- or tu- word; I sure hope so!

Here's the link, if it's too wide I'll try to fix it:

http://search.npr.org/cf/cmn/cmnpd01fm.cfm?PrgDate=11/15/2001&PrgID=2

post-edit I just looked up this place and English is not listed as a language for it. Both native languages listed are, well, native. So maybe this guy learned his English elsewhere or as the former colonial language at school and my post will have been all for naught, yet, not pointless.

http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=Tuvalu