North Vanuatu | |
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Northern Vanuatu | |
Geographic distribution | Northern Vanuatu |
Linguistic classification | Austronesian
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Glottolog | nort3205 |
The North Vanuatu languages form a linkage of Southern Oceanic languages spoken in northern Vanuatu.
Clark (2009) [1] provides the following classification of the North Vanuatu languages, divided into two main geographic areas (Torres–Banks–Maewo–Ambae–Pentecost and Santo). Outlier (aberrant) languages identified by Clark (2009) are in italics. [2]
The following list of 9 "Penama" North Vanuatu languages (that is, the North Vanuatu languages excluding the Torres–Banks and Espiritu Santo languages) is from François (2015:18–21).
No. | Language | Other names | Speakers | ISO 639-3 | Region |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | Sungwadia | Marino, North Maewo | 500 | mrb | Maewo |
19 | Sungwadaga | Central Maewo | 1400 | mwo | Maewo |
20 | Baetora | South Maewo, Sungaloge | 1330 | btr | Maewo |
21 | East Ambae | Lolovoli, Aoba | 5000 | omb | Ambae |
22 | West Ambae | Duidui | 8700 | nnd | Ambae |
23 | Raga | Hano | 6500 | lml | Pentecost |
24 | Apma | 7800 | app | Pentecost | |
25 | Ske | Seke | 300 | ske | Pentecost |
26 | Sa | Saa | 3900} | sax | Pentecost |
Torba is the northernmost and least populous province of Vanuatu. It consists of the Banks Islands and the Torres Islands.
The Central Vanuatu languages form a linkage of Southern Oceanic languages spoken in central Vanuatu.
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.
Kiai is an Oceanic language spoken by about 450 people in the central highlands of Espiritu Santo island, in Vanuatu.
Mwesen is an Oceanic language spoken in the southeastern area of Vanua Lava Island, in the Banks Islands of northern Vanuatu, by about 10 speakers.
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.
The Torres–Banks languages form a linkage of Southern Oceanic languages spoken in the Torres Islands and Banks Islands of northern Vanuatu.
Moiso is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu. It is spoken in Moriuli village in central Santo Island by about 100 people.
Kene is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu with 300 speakers.
Daruru is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu. There are perhaps 100 speakers in Pelmol village of western Santo Island.
Retlatur is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu. There are about 100 speakers in Tanovusivusi village of southern Santo Island.
Atin is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu. There are 120 speakers in Nambauk (Patunfarambu) and Fumatal villages of eastern Santo Island.
Farnanto is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu. There are about 100 speakers in Nambauk, Tanmet, and Tafua villages of eastern Santo Island.
Fanafo is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu. It is spoken by 20 people in Vanafo and Butmas villages of eastern Santo Island.
Bura is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu with 300 speakers.