# Malakula languages

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 (2015:18-21) lists 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 | ngajhay ngajkenene | 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 | xelime |
| six | 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 | nauei tarah (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 | ? |