Malakula languages
| Malakula | |
|---|---|
| Malekula | |
| Geographic distribution | Malakula Island in central Vanuatu |
| Linguistic classification | Austronesian |
| Proto-language | Proto-Malakula |
| Glottolog | mala1539 |
The Malakula languages are a group of Central Vanuatu languages spoken on Malakula Island in central Vanuatu. Unlike some earlier classifications, linguist and Oceanic languages specialist John Lynch (2016) considered the Malakula languages to form a coherent group.[1]
Features
One distinctive feature of the Malakula languages is the pervasive loss of unstressed syllables. However, according to Lynch (2014), the innovation occurred after Proto-Malakula broke up, and may have occurred on at least seven different independent occasions.[2]
Classification
Lynch (2016) divides the Malakula languages into three primary subgroups, namely Northern, Eastern, and Western, all three of which are linkages. Lynch (2016) recognizes 32 languages.[1]
- Malakula
- Northern
- Eastern
- Western
The Central-Western linkage is only very weakly defined, while
The positions of the Sörsörian, Rerep, Vivti, and Nitita languages were not addressed.
Languages
François (2015:18-21) lists the following 42 Malakula languages.
| No. | Language | Other names | Speakers | ISO 639-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | Axamb |
Ahamb | 750 | ahb
|
| 66 | Lendamboi | Letemboi |
800 | nms
|
| 67 | Nasvang | 275 | ||
| 68 | Sörsörian | 3 | ||
| 69 | Avok | 500 | ||
| 70 | Uliveo |
Maskelynes | 1100 | klv, Maskelynes
|
| 71 | Port Sandwich | Lamap |
1200 | psw
|
| 72 | Nisvai | Vetbon |
200 | |
| 73 | Burmbar | Vartavo |
900 | vrt
|
| 74 | Mbwenelang |
<10 | ||
| 75 | Aulua | 750 | aul
| |
| 76 | Niolean |
Repanbitip |
90 | rpn
|
| 77 | Rerep | Tisman |
380 | pgk
|
| 78 | Unua | Onua |
520 | onu
|
| 79 | Vivti | <5 | ||
| 80 | Nitita | <5 | ||
| 81 | Avava | Bangsa’ |
700 | tmb
|
| 82 | Neverver | Nevwervwer |
1250 | lgk
|
| 83 | Litzlitz | Naman |
15 | lzl
|
| 84 | Uripiv |
Uripiv-Wala-Rano-Atchin, Northeast Malakula |
9000 | |
| 85 | Rutan | ? | ||
| 86 | Botovro | Mpotovoro |
430 | mvt
|
| 87 | Vao | 1900 | Vao
| |
| 88 | Alovas | ? | ||
| 89 | Vovo | 475 | ||
| 90 | Nese | Matanvat |
160 | |
| 91 | Najit | <5 | ||
| 92 | Malua Bay | Middle Nambas |
500 | mll
|
| 93 | Njav | 10 | ||
| 94 | Tirax | Dirak |
1000 | mme
|
| 95 | V'ënen Taut |
Big Nambas | 3350 | nmb
|
| 96 | Tape | Maragus |
15 | mrs
|
| 97 | Larëvat | Larevat |
680 | lrv
|
| 98 | Neve'ei | Vinmavis |
500 | vnm
|
| 99 | Nivat |
<10 | ||
| 100 | Nasarian | 5 | nvh
| |
| 101 | Aveteian | Dixon Reef |
50 | dix
|
| 102 | Ninde | Labo |
1100 | mwi
|
| 103 | Nahavaq | Siesip |
700 | sns
|
| 104 | Nāti | 25 | ||
| 105 | Naha'ai |
Malvaxal, Malfaxal |
600 | mlx
|
| 106 | Navwien | 5 |
Vocabulary Comparison
| English | Bislama | Aulua | Axamb | Big Nambas | Maskelynes | Neverver (Realis) | Ninde | Tirax | Uripiv | Vao |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| one | wan | bokol | ngajhay, ngajkenene | isët, iamëk | esua | iskham | sei | haxal | ites | xete |
| two | tu | e nrua | ngaru | iru | eru | iru | khuwo | iru | eru | xeru |
| three | tri | e ntil | ngarür | itl | itor | itl | tël | itil | itul | xetol |
| four | fo | e mbis | ngavaj | iv'a | ivat | ivas | wes | ivat | ivij | xevat |
| five | faef | elima | ngarëm | ilëm' | erim | ilim | selme | ilin | ilim | xelime |
| six | sikis | ro bokol | ngarëm rahjkay | ilëmsei | emëlevtes | ijos | dumane sei | ixɔwɛn | owon | xeyon |
| seven | seven | roku rua | ngarëm rahru | isaru | emëlevru | ijoru | dumane khuwo | iwedit | ebœt | xebüt |
| eight | eit | rok til | ngarëm rahrür | isatl | emëlevtor | ijotl | dumane tël | ixewɛl | owil | xoal |
| nine | naen | rokbis | ngarëm rahpaj | isav'et | emëlevpat | ijovas | dumane wes | ixesiv | esiw | xehive |
| ten | ten | sagabul | ngasngavur | sënal, inal | saŋavur | nangavul | langal, thangal | ihŋavil | esŋawœl | hangavul |
References
- ^ S2CID 152170547.
- .
Further reading
- Jean-Michel Charpentier [in French] (1982). Atlas linguistique du Sud-Malekula — Linguistic Atlas of South Malekula (Vanuatu). Paris: Centre National de la Recherche.
- François, Alexandre; Franjieh, Michael; Lacrampe, Sébastien; Schnell, Stefan (2015), "The exceptional linguistic density of Vanuatu", in François, Alexandre; Lacrampe, Sébastien; Franjieh, Michael; Schnell, Stefan (eds.), The Languages of Vanuatu: Unity and Diversity (PDF), Studies in the Languages of Island Melanesia, Canberra: Asia Pacific Linguistics Open Access, pp. 1–21, ISBN 9781922185235
External links
- List and map of Malekula languages (A.N.U., 1995)
- Map of Vanuatu languages including Malekula
- Updated map of Malekula languages (MPI-SHH – Jena, 2018) – see presentation.