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Austronesian language spoken in Vanuatu From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lemerig is an Oceanic language spoken on Vanua Lava, in Vanuatu.
Lemerig | |
---|---|
Pak, Päk, Sasar | |
Pronunciation | [lɪmɪˈriɣ] |
Native to | Vanuatu |
Region | Vanua Lava |
Native speakers | 2 (2010)[1] |
Dialects | Alo-Teqel, Pak, Sasar |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | lrz |
Glottolog | leme1238 |
ELP | Lemerig |
![]() Lemerig is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger |
The language is no longer actively spoken. The 2 remaining speakers live on the northern coast of the island.[2] Lemerig has receded in favour of its neighbours Mwotlap and Vera'a.[1]
The name Lemerig refers to a now abandoned village in northern Vanua Lava; it is spelled Lēmērig /lɪmɪˈriɣ/ in the language of the same name. It reflects an earlier Proto-Torres-Banks form *lemeriɣi, where the *riɣi component likely means "small".
Lemerig has sometimes been referred to using the names of its local varieties: Päk;[3] Sasar; Alo-Teqel.
Judging from wordlists published by missionary and linguist Robert Codrington,[4] these three varieties were very close to each other. The little differences there were went extinct during the 20th century.
Lemerig has 11 phonemic vowels. These are all short monophthongs /i ɪ ɛ æ a œ ø ɒ̝ ɔ ʊ u/.[5][6]
The system of personal pronouns in Lemerig contrasts clusivity, and distinguishes four numbers (singular, dual, trial, and plural).[7]
Spatial reference in Lemerig is based on a system of geocentric (absolute) directionals, which is in part typical of Oceanic languages, in part innovative.[8]
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