Nume language

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Nume (also called Gog and Tarasag) is an Oceanic language spoken on Gaua island in Vanuatu. Its 700 speakers live on the northeast coast of Gaua.[1]

Nume
Tarasag, Gog
Native toVanuatu
RegionGaua
Native speakers
700 (2012)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3tgs
Glottolognume1241
ELPNume

Nume is a distinct language from its immediate southern neighbors, Mwerlap and Dorig.[2]

Names

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The name Nume originates in the name of a village, now abandoned. Tarasag is currently the community's main village. The alternate name Gog refers to the broader area, and by extension, to the island.

Phonology

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Nume has 15 consonant phonemes.[3]

Consonants
Labiovelar Bilabial Alveolar Dorsal
Voiceless stop k͡pʷ ⟨q⟩ t ⟨t⟩ k ⟨k⟩
Prenasalized stop ᵐb ⟨b⟩ ⁿd ⟨d⟩
Fricative β ⟨v⟩ s ⟨s⟩ ɣ ⟨g⟩
Nasal ŋ͡mʷ ⟨m̄⟩ m ⟨m⟩ n ⟨n⟩ ŋ ⟨n̄⟩
Rhotic r ⟨r⟩
Lateral l ⟨l⟩
Approximant w ⟨w⟩
  • /β/ can also be heard as [ɸ] among speakers.

Nume has 7 phonemic vowels, which are all short monophthongs.[4]

Vowels
Front Back
Close i ⟨i⟩ u ⟨u⟩
Near-close ɪ ⟨ē⟩ ʊ ⟨ō⟩
Open-mid ɛ ⟨e⟩ ɔ ⟨o⟩
Open a ⟨a⟩

Grammar

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The system of personal pronouns in Nume contrasts clusivity, and distinguishes four numbers (singular, dual, trial, plural).[5]

Spatial reference in Nume is based on a system of geocentric (absolute) directionals, which is typical of Oceanic languages.[6]

References

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Bibliography

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