Numèè (Naa Numee, Naa-Wee), or Kwényi (Kwenyii), is a New Caledonian language, the one spoken at the southern tip of the island, as well as on the Isle of Pines offshore. Despite its name, it is probably not the language that gave its name to the capital of New Caledonia, Nouméa; that seems to have been its close relative Ndrumbea, which used to be spoken there.
Phonology Like its close relative Ndrumbea, Numèè is a tonal language, with three contrasting tones, high, mid, and low.
Vowels Numèè, or rather its dialect Kwênyii, has a total of 35 vowels, all monophthongs: 17 short, and 18 long.See , 1973, p.105.
+Vowel phonemes of KwênyiiFrontFront roundedCentralBackCloseNear-closeClose-midːːOpen-midOpen
Consonants Kwênyii has 25 consonants.See , 1973, p.46.Kwényïï - homepage of Académie des Langues Kanak.
+Consonants of KwênyiiLabialAlveolarRetroflexPalatalVelarplainlab.plainlab.NasalStopvoicelessprenasalFricativeContinuant Notes
References