Central Vanuatu languages
Subgroup of the Oceanic branch of the Austronesian language family
The Central Vanuatu languages form a linkage of Southern Oceanic languages spoken in central Vanuatu .
Languages
Clark (2009)
Clark (2009) provides the following classification of the Central Vanuatu languages, divided into geographic areas.[ 1] Outlier (aberrant) languages identified by Clark (2009) are in italics . Clark's Central Vanuatu branch is wider in scope,[clarification needed ] including not only the Shepherd–Efate languages, but also the Malakula and Ambrym–Paama–Epi languages.
Central Vanuatu
Malakula languages
Northeast Malakula (Uripiv ), Vao , Vovo; Mpotovoro
Dirak , Malua Bay
V’ënen Taut , Tape
Larevat , Neve’ei , Naman
Navava , Nevwervwer
Unua -Pangkumu
Banam Bay , Aulua
Lendamboi ; Nasarian
Axamb , Avok , Maskelynes , Port Sandwich
Sinesip , Naha’ai ; Ninde
Ambrym–Paama–Epi area
Shepherd–Efate area
François et al. (2015)
The following list of 19 Central Vanuatu languages (excluding the Malakula languages ) is from François et al. (2015 :18–21).
No.
Language
Other names
Speakers
ISO 639-3
Region
107
North Ambrym
5250
mmg
Ambrym
108
Orkon
Fanbak
30
fnb
Ambrym
109
Southeast Ambrym
3700
tvk
Ambrym
110
Daakie
Port Vato
1300
ptv
Ambrym
111
Daakaka
South Ambrym , Baiap
1200
bpa
Ambrym
112
Dalkalaen
1000
Ambrym
113
Raljago
West Ambrym , Lonwolwol
<10
crc
Ambrym
114
Paama
Paamese
6000
paa
Paama
115
Lamen
Lamenu , Varmali
850
lmu
Epi , Lamen
116
Lewo
Varsu
2200
lww
Epi
117
Bierebo
Bonkovia-Yevali
900
bnk
Epi
118
Baki
Burumba , Paki
350
bki
Epi
119
Mkir
Maii
180
mmm
Epi
120
Bieria
Bieri , Vovo, Wowo
25
brj
Epi
121
Namakura
Makura , Namakir
3750
nmk
Efate , Shepherd Islands (Tongoa , Tongariki )
123
Nakanamanga
9500
llp
Efate , Shepherd Islands (Nguna , Tongoa )
124
Lelepa
Havannah Harbour
400
lpa
Efate , Lelepa
125
Eton
500
etn
Efate
126
South Efate
Erakor
6000
erk
Efate
Additionally, the extinct Sowa language was formerly spoken in central Vanuatu.
References
^ Clark, Ross (2009). Leo Tuai: A comparative lexical study of North and Central Vanuatu languages . Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.
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 .
* indicates proposed status
? indicates classification dispute
† indicates extinct status