Malakula languages
| Malakula | |
|---|---|
| Malekula | |
| Geographic distribution | Malakula Island in central Vanuatu |
| Linguistic classification | Austronesian |
| Proto-language | Proto-Malakula |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | mala1539 |
| ELP | Lua error in Module:Endangered_Languages_Project at line 21: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]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 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
[edit | edit source]François et al. (2015:18-21) list the following 42 Malakula languages.
Vocabulary comparison
[edit | edit source]Numbers
[edit | edit source]| English | Bislama | Aulua | Axamb | Big Nambas | Maskelynes | Neverver | 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 |
Other basic words
[edit | edit source]| English | Bislama | Aulua | Axamb | Big Nambas | Maskelynes | Neverver | Ninde | Tirax | Uripiv | Vao |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| water | wota | nave | nuwoi | nauei tarah (taboo synonym) |
nëwai | nio | nowoi | nua/nue | nua | ? |
| woman | wuman | momo | napnevër | tav'et | pëhaṽut | vin | watawox | vinadr | leter | ? |
| child | pikinini | netina | tete | mardel | tëtai | niterikh | ? | ntɛbih | tipis | ? |
| child (of someone) | pikinini | netina | narën | nat | natu | niterikh | netnowox | net | natu | ? |
References
[edit | edit source]Further reading
[edit | edit source]- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
External links
[edit | edit source]- List and map of Malekula languages (A.N.U., 1995)
- Map of Vanuatu languages, including Malekula (source: François et al. 2015).
- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). – see presentation on Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..