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 (2016) 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 (2014), the innovation occurred after Proto-Malakula broke up, and may have occurred on at least seven different independent occasions.
Classification Lynch (2016) divides the Malakula languages into three primary subgroups, namely Northern, Eastern, and Western, all three of which are linkages. Lynch (2016) 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. (2015:18-21) list the following 42 Malakula languages.
No. Language Other names Speakers ISO 639-3 65 Axamb Ahamb 750 ahb 66 Lendamboi Small Nambas, Letemboi 800 nms 67 Nasvang 275 68 Sörsörian 3 69 Avok 500 70 Uliveo Maskelynes 1100 klv, Maskelynes 71 Port Sandwich Lamap 1200 psw 72 Nisvai Vetbon 200 73 Burmbar Banam Bay, Vartavo 900 vrt 74 Mbwenelang <10 75 Aulua 750 aul 76 Niolean Repanbitip 90 rpn 77 Rerep Pangkumu, Tisman 380 pgk 78 Unua Onua 520 onu 79 Vivti <5 80 Nitita <5 81 Avava Katbol, Navava, Bangsa’ 700 tmb 82 Neverver Lingarak, Nevwervwer 1250 lgk 83 Litzlitz Naman 15 lzl 84 Uripiv Uripiv-Wala-Rano-Atchin, Northeast Malakula 9000 upv, Atchin, Uripiv 85 Rutan ? 86 Botovro Mpotovoro 430 mvt 87 Vao 1900 vao, Vao 88 Alovas ? 89 Vovo 475 90 Nese Matanvat 160 91 Najit <5 92 Malua Bay Middle Nambas 500 mll 93 Njav 10 94 Tirax Mae, Dirak 1000 mme 95 V'ënen Taut Big Nambas 3350 nmb 96 Tape Maragus 15 mrs 97 Larëvat Laravat, Larevat 680 lrv 98 Neve'ei Vinmavis 500 vnm 99 Nivat <10 100 Nasarian 5 nvh 101 Aveteian Dixon Reef 50 dix 102 Ninde Labo 1100 mwi 103 Nahavaq South West Bay, Siesip 700 sns 104 Nāti 25 105 Naha'ai Malvaxal, Malfaxal 600 mlx 106 Navwien 5
Vocabulary comparison Numbers
English Bislama Aulua Axamb Big Nambas Maskelynes Neverver Ninde Tirax Uripiv Vao one wan bokol ngajhayngajkenene isët, iamëk esua iskham sei haxal ites xete two tu e nrua ngaru iru eru iru khuwo iru eru xeru three tri e ntil ngarür itl itor itl tël itil itul xetol four fo e mbis ngavaj iv'a ivat ivas wes ivat ivij xevat five faef elima ngarëm ilëm' erim ilim selme ilin ilim xelimesix sikis ro bokol ngarëm rahjkay ilëmsei emëlevtes ijos dumane sei ixɔwɛn owon xeyon seven seven roku rua ngarëm rahru isaru emëlevru ijoru dumane khuwo iwedit ebœt xebüt eight eit rok til ngarëm rahrür isatl emëlevtor ijotl dumane tël ixewɛl owil xoal nine naen rokbis ngarëm rahpaj isav'et emëlevpat ijovas dumane wes ixesiv esiw xehive ten ten sagabul ngasngavur sënal, inal saŋavur nangavul langal, thangal ihŋavil esŋawœl hangavul
Other basic words
English Bislama Aulua Axamb Big Nambas Maskelynes Neverver Ninde Tirax Uripiv Vao water wota nave nuwoi naueitarah (taboo synonym) nëwai nio nowoi nua/nue nua ? woman wuman momo napnevër tav'et pëhaṽut vin watawox vinadr leter ? child pikinini netina tete mardel tëtai niterikh ? ntɛbih tipis ? child (of someone) pikinini netina narën nat natu niterikh netnowox net natu ?
References
Further reading
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External links List and map of Malekula languages (A.N.U., 1995) Map of Vanuatu languages, including Malekula (source: François et al. 2015). – see presentation on .