TorresâBanks | |
---|---|
Geographic distribution | Torres Islands and Banks Islands, Torba Province, northern Vanuatu |
Linguistic classification | Austronesian |
Proto-language | Proto-Torres-Banks |
Glottolog | torr1262 |
The TorresâBanks languages form a linkage of Southern Oceanic languages spoken in the Torres Islands and Banks Islands of northern Vanuatu.
François (2011) recognizes 17 languages spoken by 9,400 people in 50 villages, including 16 living (3 of which are moribund) and one extinct language. [1]
The 17 languages, ranked from northwest to southeast, are: [1]: 181
Language | Number of speakers | ISO 639-3 code | Island(s) spoken |
---|---|---|---|
Hiw | 280 | [hiw] | Hiw |
Lo-Toga | 580 | [lht] | Tegua, Lo, Toga |
Lehali | 200 | [tql] | Ureparapara |
Löyöp | 240 | [urr] | Ureparapara |
Volow | extinct | [mlv] | Mota Lava |
Mwotlap | 2100 | [mlv] | Mota Lava |
Lemerig | 2 (moribund) | [lrz] | Vanua Lava |
Vera'a | 500 | [vra] | Vanua Lava |
Vurës | 2000 | [msn] | Vanua Lava |
Mwesen | 10 (moribund) | [msn] | Vanua Lava |
Mota | 750 | [mtt] | Mota |
Nume | 700 | [tgs] | Gaua |
Dorig | 300 | [wwo] | Gaua |
Koro | 250 | [krf] | Gaua |
Olrat | 3 (moribund) | [olr] | Gaua |
Lakon | 800 | [lkn] | Gaua |
Mwerlap | 1100 | [mrm] | Merelava |
A. François has published several studies comparing various features of the TorresâBanks languages:
François (2012) is a sociolinguistic study of the area.
The internal structure of the TorresâBanks linkage was assessed based on the Comparative method, and presented in the framework of historical glottometry ( François 2014, 2017; Kalyan & François 2018).
Kalyan & François (2018: 81) identified the following best-supported subgroups (in decreasing order of genealogical closeness):
It is possible that the strict common ancestor of any two members of the TorresâBanks linkage is Proto-Oceanic itself. [1]: 188 Evidence of this is found in the preservation of final consonants in Lakon (via a now-lost paragogic vowel), consonants which were lost in most other languages. [2] [1]: 200
The common ancestor of all Torres-Banks languages is called Proto-TorresâBanks, viewed here as a mutually-intelligible chain of dialects within the Torres and Banks islands. [1]: 190
TorresâBanks | |
---|---|
Geographic distribution | Torres Islands and Banks Islands, Torba Province, northern Vanuatu |
Linguistic classification | Austronesian |
Proto-language | Proto-Torres-Banks |
Glottolog | torr1262 |
The TorresâBanks languages form a linkage of Southern Oceanic languages spoken in the Torres Islands and Banks Islands of northern Vanuatu.
François (2011) recognizes 17 languages spoken by 9,400 people in 50 villages, including 16 living (3 of which are moribund) and one extinct language. [1]
The 17 languages, ranked from northwest to southeast, are: [1]: 181
Language | Number of speakers | ISO 639-3 code | Island(s) spoken |
---|---|---|---|
Hiw | 280 | [hiw] | Hiw |
Lo-Toga | 580 | [lht] | Tegua, Lo, Toga |
Lehali | 200 | [tql] | Ureparapara |
Löyöp | 240 | [urr] | Ureparapara |
Volow | extinct | [mlv] | Mota Lava |
Mwotlap | 2100 | [mlv] | Mota Lava |
Lemerig | 2 (moribund) | [lrz] | Vanua Lava |
Vera'a | 500 | [vra] | Vanua Lava |
Vurës | 2000 | [msn] | Vanua Lava |
Mwesen | 10 (moribund) | [msn] | Vanua Lava |
Mota | 750 | [mtt] | Mota |
Nume | 700 | [tgs] | Gaua |
Dorig | 300 | [wwo] | Gaua |
Koro | 250 | [krf] | Gaua |
Olrat | 3 (moribund) | [olr] | Gaua |
Lakon | 800 | [lkn] | Gaua |
Mwerlap | 1100 | [mrm] | Merelava |
A. François has published several studies comparing various features of the TorresâBanks languages:
François (2012) is a sociolinguistic study of the area.
The internal structure of the TorresâBanks linkage was assessed based on the Comparative method, and presented in the framework of historical glottometry ( François 2014, 2017; Kalyan & François 2018).
Kalyan & François (2018: 81) identified the following best-supported subgroups (in decreasing order of genealogical closeness):
It is possible that the strict common ancestor of any two members of the TorresâBanks linkage is Proto-Oceanic itself. [1]: 188 Evidence of this is found in the preservation of final consonants in Lakon (via a now-lost paragogic vowel), consonants which were lost in most other languages. [2] [1]: 200
The common ancestor of all Torres-Banks languages is called Proto-TorresâBanks, viewed here as a mutually-intelligible chain of dialects within the Torres and Banks islands. [1]: 190