Malakula languages

Last updated
Malakula
Malekula
Geographic
distribution		 Malakula Island in central Vanuatu
Linguistic classification Austronesian
Proto-languageProto-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]

Contents

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]

The Central-Western linkage is only very weakly defined, while Ninde and Nāti have similarities with both the Northwestern and Southwestern linkages.

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.LanguageOther namesSpeakers ISO 639-3
65 Axamb Ahamb 750 ahb
66 Lendamboi Small Nambas, 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 Banam Bay, Vartavo 900 vrt
74 Mbwenelang <10
75 Aulua 750 aul
76 Niolean Repanbitip 90 rpn
77 Rerep Pangkumu, Tisman 380 pgk
78 Unua Onua 520 onu
79 Vivti <5
80 Nitita <5
81 Avava Katbol, Navava, Bangsa’ 700 tmb
82 Neverver Lingarak, Nevwervwer 1250 lgk
83 Litzlitz Naman 15 lzl
84 Uripiv Uripiv-Wala-Rano-Atchin, Northeast Malakula 9000 upv, Atchin, Uripiv
85 Rutan  ?
86 Botovro Mpotovoro 430 mvt
87 Vao 1900 vao, Vao
88 Alovas  ?
89Vovo475
90 Nese Matanvat 160
91 Najit <5
92 Malua Bay Middle Nambas 500 mll
93 Njav 10
94 Tirax Mae, Dirak 1000 mme
95 V'ënen Taut Big Nambas 3350 nmb
96 Tape Maragus 15 mrs
97 Larëvat Laravat, 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 South West Bay, Siesip 700 sns
104 Nāti 25
105 Naha'ai Malvaxal, Malfaxal 600 mlx
106 Navwien 5

Vocabulary Comparison

EnglishBislamaAuluaAxambBig NambasMaskelynesNeverver (Realis)NindeTiraxUripivVao
onewanbokolngajhay, ngajkeneneisët, iamëkesuaiskhamseihaxalitesxete
twotue nruangaruirueruirukhuwoirueruxeru
threetrie ntilngarüritlitoritltëlitilitulxetol
fourfoe mbisngavajiv'aivativaswesivativijxevat
fivefaefelimangarëmilëm'erimilimselmeilinilimxelime
sixsikisro bokolngarëm rahjkayilëmseiemëlevtesijosdumane seiixɔwɛnowonxeyon
sevensevenroku ruangarëm rahruisaruemëlevruijorudumane khuwoiweditebœtxebüt
eighteitrok tilngarëm rahrürisatlemëlevtorijotldumane tëlixewɛlowilxoal
ninenaenrokbisngarëm rahpajisav'etemëlevpatijovasdumane wesixesivesiwxehive
tentensagabulngasngavursënal, inalsaŋavurnangavullangal, thangalihŋavilesŋawœlhangavul

Related Research Articles

The nine South Vanuatu languages form a family of the Southern Oceanic languages, spoken in Tafea Province of Vanuatu.

The Central Vanuatu languages form a linkage of Southern Oceanic languages spoken in central Vanuatu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Oceanic languages</span> Subgroup of the Oceanic branch of the Austronesian language family

The Southern Oceanic languages are a linkage of Oceanic languages spoken in Vanuatu and New Caledonia. It was proposed by John Lynch in 1995 and supported by later studies. It appears to be a linkage rather than a language family with a clearly defined internal nested structure.

The North Vanuatu languages form a linkage of Southern Oceanic languages spoken in northern Vanuatu.

Kiai is an Oceanic language spoken by about 450 people in the central highlands of Espiritu Santo island, in Vanuatu.

Mwerlap is an Oceanic language spoken in the south of the Banks Islands in Vanuatu.

Polonombauk is a language of the interior of the southeast of Santo Island in Vanuatu.

Ande or Morouas (Moruas) is an Oceanic language spoken in central Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu.

Narango is an Oceanic language spoken on the south coast of Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu.

Nokuku (Nogugu) is an Oceanic language spoken in the north of Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu.

Piamatsina is an Oceanic language spoken in the north of Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu.

Wailapa, or Ale, is an Oceanic language spoken on Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu. It is in a dialect chain between Akei and Penantsiro, but these are not mutually intelligible.

The Espiritu Santo languages are a group of North Vanuatu languages spoken on Espiritu Santo Island in northern Vanuatu. Tryon (2010) considers the Espiritu Santo languages to be a coherent group.

Dalkalaen is a Central Vanuatu language spoken by about 1,000 people on the southwestern tip of Ambrym Island, Vanuatu.

Moiso is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu. It is spoken in Moriuli village in central Santo Island by about 100 people.

Daruru is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu. There are perhaps 100 speakers in Pelmol village of western Santo Island.

Rutan is a Malakula language of Vanuatu.

Alovas is a Malakula language of Vanuatu.

Najit is a Malakula language of Vanuatu, spoken by less than 5 speakers.

Njav is a Malakula language of Vanuatu. There are about 10 speakers.

References

  1. 1 2 Lynch, John (December 2016). "Malakula Internal Subgrouping: Phonological Evidence". Oceanic Linguistics. University of Hawai'i Press. 55 (2): 399–431. doi:10.1353/ol.2016.0019. S2CID   152170547.
  2. ↑ Lynch, John (July 2014). "Unexpected Final Vowel Retention in Malakula". Open Linguistics 2014. De Gruyter Open. 1: 1–16. doi: 10.2478/opli-2014-0001 .

Further reading

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