Malakula languages
Group of Oceanic languages spoken in Vanuatu
| Malakula | |
|---|---|
| Malekula | |
| Geographic distribution | Malakula Island in central Vanuatu |
| Linguistic classification | Austronesian
|
| Proto-language | Proto-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]
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.
Vocabulary Comparison
| English | Bislama | Aulua | Axamb | Big Nambas | Maskelynes | Neverver (Realis) | 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 |
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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", in François, Alexandre; Lacrampe, Sébastien; Franjieh, Michael; Schnell, Stefan (eds.), The Languages of Vanuatu: Unity and Diversity (PDF), Studies in the Languages of Island Melanesia, Canberra: Asia Pacific Linguistics Open Access, pp. 1–21, ISBN 9781922185235
External links
- List and map of Malekula languages (A.N.U., 1995)
- Map of Vanuatu languages including Malekula
- Updated map of Malekula languages (MPI-SHH – Jena, 2018) – see presentation.
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| North Vanuatu |
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| Nuclear Southern Oceanic |
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- * indicates proposed status
- ? indicates classification dispute
- † indicates extinct status
