Wailapa language


Wailapa, or Moiso or Ale, is an Oceanic language or dialect spoken on Espiritu Santo Island in Vanuatu.
It is possibly endangered, with its status described as "shifting". It is also described as "stable".
It has multiple dialects.

Classification

Wailapa is generally described as a language, but also as a dialect of the proposed, lexicostastically defined Southwest Santo language along with Araki, Tangoa, and Akei.

Selected vocabulary

The list below is a sample of words in Wailapa. 
WailapaEnglish
patu-kuhead
umʷi-kubeard
tamanpatu-kubelly
laso-kutesticles
marau-kuleft hand
tˢino-imadoor
tikinoβucentipede
lanofly
moɂimosquito
paɂeoshark
apa-nawing
tˢiograsshopper
aβuaturtle
korui niudry coconut
piorosandalwood
matˢoestar
βusiβusisand
βaliβali tasifoam
pakabow
soɂodigging stick
βurofight
tˢoriɂayellow
mo toluthree
raβuruaseven
mo-βisahow many
taunyear
iniahe
inirathey
atiabite
ɂaniɂaneat
sisia apublow
kunurun