Sungwadia language

Sungwadia
Marino
North Maewo
Native toVanuatu
RegionMaewo
Native speakers
500 (2008)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3mrb
Glottologmari1426
ELPMarino
Sungwadia is not endangered according to the classification system of the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

Sungwadia, also known as Marino and North Maewo, is an Oceanic language spoken on Maewo, Vanuatu.

Phonology

Consonants

Labial-
velar 		Labial Alveolar Velar
Plosive voiceless kʷ t k
prenasal ᵐb ⁿd
Nasal ŋʷ m n ŋ
Fricative f s x
Rhotic r
Lateral l
Approximant w
  • /k/ can also have prenasal allophones [ᵑɡ] or [ᵑk].
  • /ŋʷ/ can also have an allophone of a labial [mʷ] in word-initial position.

Vowels

Front Central Back
Close i u
Mid e o
Open a
  • /e, o/ can also have allophones of more open sounds [ɛ, ɔ].
  • /i/ can also be heard as a semivowel [j] in word-final position.[2]

Notes

  1. ^ Sungwadia at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Henri (2011).

References

  • Henri, Agnès (2011). Le sungwadia. Éléments de description d'une langue du Vanuatu. Collection linguistique de la Société de Linguistique de Paris (in French). Vol. 97. Leuven: Peeters. p. 463.


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