Malakula languages


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 considered the Malakula languages to form a coherent group.

Features

One distinctive feature of the Malakula languages is the pervasive loss of unstressed syllables. However, according to Lynch, the innovation occurred after Proto-Malakula broke up, and may have occurred on at least seven different independent occasions.

Classification

Lynch divides the Malakula languages into three primary subgroups, namely Northern, Eastern, and Western, all three of which are linkages. Lynch recognizes 32 languages.
  • Malakula
  • *Northern
  • **Malua Bay
  • **North Coast
  • ***Nese
  • ***Botovro
  • ***Vovo, Vao
  • *Eastern
  • **Uripiv
  • **Unua
  • **Aulua
  • **Banam Bay
  • **Southeastern
  • ***Bwenelang
  • ***Nasvang, Nisvai
  • ***Port Sandwich, Avok, Axamb
  • ***Maskelynes
  • *Western
  • **Central Western
  • ***Neve'ei
  • ***Larëvat
  • ***Naman
  • **Peripheral Western
  • ***Ninde
  • ***Nāti
  • ***Northwestern
  • ****V'ënen Taut
  • ****Tape
  • ****Tirax
  • ***Southwestern
  • ****Lendamboi
  • ****Aveteian
  • ****Navwien
  • ****Avava
  • ****Nasarian
  • ****Naha'ai, Nahavaq
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 et al. list the following 42 Malakula languages.
No.LanguageOther namesSpeakersISO 639-3
65AxambAhamb750ahb
66LendamboiSmall Nambas, Letemboi800nms
67Nasvang275
68Sörsörian3
69Avok500
70UliveoMaskelynes1100klv, Maskelynes
71Port SandwichLamap1200psw
72NisvaiVetbon200
73BurmbarBanam Bay, Vartavo900vrt
74Mbwenelang<10
75Aulua750aul
76NioleanRepanbitip90rpn
77RerepPangkumu, Tisman380pgk
78UnuaOnua520onu
79Vivti<5
80Nitita<5
81AvavaKatbol, Navava, Bangsa’700tmb
82NeververLingarak, Nevwervwer1250lgk
83LitzlitzNaman15lzl
84UripivUripiv-Wala-Rano-Atchin, Northeast Malakula9000upv, Atchin, Uripiv
85Rutan?
86BotovroMpotovoro430mvt
87Vao1900vao, Vao
88Alovas?
89Vovo475
90NeseMatanvat160
91Najit<5
92Malua BayMiddle Nambas500mll
93Njav10
94TiraxMae, Dirak1000mme
95V'ënen TautBig Nambas3350nmb
96TapeMaragus15mrs
97LarëvatLaravat, Larevat680lrv
98Neve'eiVinmavis500vnm
99Nivat<10
100Nasarian5nvh
101AveteianDixon Reef50dix
102NindeLabo1100mwi
103NahavaqSouth West Bay, Siesip700sns
104Nāti25
105Naha'aiMalvaxal, Malfaxal600mlx
106Navwien5

Vocabulary comparison

Numbers

EnglishBislamaAuluaAxambBig NambasMaskelynesNeververNindeTiraxUripivVao
onewanbokolngajhay
ngajkenene		isët, iamëkesuaiskhamseihaxalitesxete
twotue nruangaruirueruirukhuwoirueruxeru
threetrie ntilngarüritlitoritltëlitilitulxetol
fourfoe mbisngavajiv'aivativaswesivativijxevat
fivefaefelimangarëmilëm'erimilimselmeilinilimxelime
sixsikisro bokolngarëm rahjkayilëmseiemëlevtesijosdumane seiixɔwɛnowonxeyon
sevensevenroku ruangarëm rahruisaruemëlevruijorudumane khuwoiweditebœtxebüt
eighteitrok tilngarëm rahrürisatlemëlevtorijotldumane tëlixewɛlowilxoal
ninenaenrokbisngarëm rahpajisav'etemëlevpatijovasdumane wesixesivesiwxehive
tentensagabulngasngavursënal, inalsaŋavurnangavullangal, thangalihŋavilesŋawœlhangavul

Other basic words

EnglishBislamaAuluaAxambBig NambasMaskelynesNeververNindeTiraxUripivVao
waterwotanavenuwoinauei
tarah 		nëwainionowoinua/nuenua?
womanwumanmomonapnevërtav'etpëhaṽutvinwatawoxvinadrleter?
childpikinininetinatetemardeltëtainiterikh?ntɛbihtipis?
child pikinininetinanarënnatnatuniterikhnetnowoxnetnatu?