South Vanuatu languages

Last updated
South Vanuatu
Geographic
distribution		Southern Vanuatu
Linguistic classification Austronesian
Proto-languageProto-South Vanuatu
Glottolog sout2868

The nine South Vanuatu languages form a family of the Southern Oceanic languages, [1] spoken in Tafea Province (Tanna, Aneityum, Futuna, Erromango, and Aniwa) of Vanuatu.

Contents

Languages

François (2015)

François (2015:18–21) lists the following names and locations for the 9 South Vanuatu languages.

No.LanguageOther namesSpeakers ISO 639-3 Region
128 Sie Se, Sie, Erromanga 1900 erg Erromango
129 Ura 6 uur Erromango
130 Utaha 0 iff Erromango
131 North Tanna 5000 tnn Tanna
132 Lenakel Netvaar 11500 tnl Tanna
133 Southwest Tanna Nawal 5000 nwi Tanna
134 Whitesands Narak 7500 tnp Tanna
135 Kwamera Nafe, Nɨfe 3500 tnk Tanna
137 Anejom̃ Aneityum 900 aty Aneityum

Proto-South Vanuatu

Proto-South Vanuatu
PSV
Reconstruction ofSouth Vanuatu languages
Reconstructed
ancestors

Proto-South Vanuatu was reconstructed by John Lynch in 2001.

The language, compared to Proto-Oceanic, went through a series of vowel reductions, leading to the creation of a new vowel written as *ə, such as in *na-waiR "fresh water" resulting in Proto-South Vanuatu *nə-wai of the same meaning.

However, it also preserves some, but not all final consonants. For example, *tanum "to plant, bury" is reflected in Proto-South Vanuatu as *(a)-tenum "to bury", but *taŋis "to cry" is instead reflected as *(a)-taŋi.

Vowels

The vowels of Proto-South Vanuatu, according to Lynch, are:

Vowels
Front Central Back
Close *i*u
Close-mid *e*ə*o
Open *a

Consonants

The consonants of Proto-South Vanuatu, according to Lynch, are:

Consonants
Labiovelar Bilabial Alveolar Palatal Velar Uvular
Stop voiced * b ʷ * b * d * g
voiceless * p ʷ * p * t * k * q
Nasal * m ʷ * m * n * ŋ
Fricative * v * s * c , * ɟ
[ clarification needed ]		* ɣ
Approximant * w * l , * r * j

Related Research Articles

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Efate language</span> Austronesian language spoken in Vanuatu

North Efate, also known as Nakanamanga or Nguna, is an Oceanic language spoken on the northern area of Efate in Vanuatu, as well as on a number of islands off the northern coast – including Nguna, and parts of Tongoa, Emae and Epi.

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

Dorig(formerly called Wetamut) is an Oceanic language spoken on Gaua island in Vanuatu.

Nume is an Oceanic language spoken on Gaua island in Vanuatu. Its 700 speakers live on the northeast coast of Gaua.

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 Malakula languages are a group of Central Vanuatu languages spoken on Malakula Island in central Vanuatu. Unlike some earlier classifications, Lynch (2016) considers the Malakula languages to form a coherent group.

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.

Kene is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu with 300 speakers.

Retlatur is an Espiritu Santo language of Vanuatu. There are about 100 speakers in Tanovusivusi village of southern 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. ↑ Lynch, John; Ross, Malcolm; Crowley, Terry (2002). The Oceanic languages. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon. ISBN   978-0-7007-1128-4. OCLC   48929366.
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