Mwerlap language

Mwerlap
Merelava, Merlav
N̄wërlap
Pronunciation[ŋʷɞrˈlap]
Native toVanuatu
RegionMerelava, Gaua
Native speakers
ca. 1,100 (2012)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3mrm
Glottologmerl1237
Mwerlap is not endangered according to the classification system of the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
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Mwerlap is an Oceanic language spoken in the south of the Banks Islands in Vanuatu.

Its 1,100 speakers live mostly in Merelava and Merig, but a fair proportion have also settled on the east coast of Gaua island.[2] Besides, a number of Mwerlap speakers live in the two cities of Vanuatu, Port Vila and Luganville.

The language has been studied by Alexandre François, and more recently by Agnès Henri.[3]

Name

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The language is named after Mwerlap, the native name of Merelava island.

Phonology

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Mwerlap has 12 phonemic vowels. These include 9 monophthongs /i ɪ ɛ ʉ ɵ ɞ ʊ ɔ a/,[4] and 3 diphthongs /ɛ͡a ɔ͡ɞ ʊ͡ɵ/.[5]

Mwerlap vowels
Front Central
rounded
Back Diphthongs
Close i ⟨i⟩ ʉ ⟨u⟩
Near-close ɪ ⟨ē⟩ ɵ ⟨ö⟩ ʊ ⟨ō⟩ ʊ͡ɵ ⟨ōö⟩
Open-mid ɛ ⟨e⟩ ɞ ⟨ë⟩ ɔ ⟨o⟩ ɔ͡ɞ ⟨oë⟩
Open a ⟨a⟩ ɛ͡a ⟨ea⟩

Grammar

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The system of personal pronouns in Mwerlap contrasts clusivity, and distinguishes three numbers (singular, dual, plural).[6]

Independent pronouns in Mwerlap[7]
Singular Dual Plural
1st inclusive no ~ në /nɔ/~/nœ/ dōrō /ⁿdʊrʊ/ gean /ɣɛ͡an/
exclusive kamar /kamar/ kemem /kɛmɛm/
2nd neak /nɛ͡ak/ kamrō /kamrʊ/ kemi /kɛmi/
3rd (ki)sean /(ki)sɛ͡an/ karar /karar/ kear /kɛ͡ar/

Spatial reference in Mwerlap is based on a system of geocentric (absolute) directionals.[8] That system is partly typical of Oceanic languages, and yet innovative.[9]

References

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  1. ^ François 2012, p. 88.
  2. ^ François 2012, p. 97.
  3. ^ Henri 2023.
  4. ^ Henri (2023, pp. 165–167); see online.
  5. ^ François 2005, pp. 445, 460.
  6. ^ François 2016, p. 51.
  7. ^ François 2016, p. 33-35.
  8. ^ Henri (2023, pp. 205–212); see online.
  9. ^ François 2015, pp. 173–175.

Bibliography

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