Malakula languages

Malakula
Malekula
Geographic
distribution		Malakula Island in central Vanuatu
Linguistic classificationAustronesian
Proto-languageProto-Malakula
Language codes
Glottologmala1539

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]

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. Language Other names Speakers 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 ?
89 Vovo 475
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

Numbers

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

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

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

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" (PDF), in François, Alexandre; Lacrampe, Sébastien; Franjieh, Michael; Schnell, Stefan (eds.), The Languages of Vanuatu: Unity and Diversity, Studies in the Languages of Island Melanesia, Canberra: Asia Pacific Linguistics Open Access, pp. 1–21, ISBN 9781922185235