West Ambae language

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West Ambae (also known as Duidui, the principal dialect, and Opa, the Mota name for the island) is an Oceanic language spoken on Ambae, Vanuatu. Recognized dialects of West Ambae include Walaha and Nduindui (Duindui). The New Testament was published in West Ambae in 1984.

West Ambae
Native toVanuatu
RegionAmbae
Native speakers
8,700 (2001)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3nnd
Glottologwest2513
West Ambae is not endangered according to the classification system of the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
Regianna speaking West Ambae.

Phonology

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Consonants
Bilabial Alveolar Velar Labiovelar Glottal
Plosive voiceless t k
voiced ᵐb ⁿd (ŋ)ɡ (ŋ)ɡʷ
Fricative β s h
Nasal m n ŋ ŋʷ
Rhotic r
Lateral l

Voiced stops /ɡ, ɡʷ/ occur as prenasalized /ᵑɡ, ᵑɡʷ/, in the Walaha dialect.[2]

Vowels
Front Central Back
Close i u
Mid e o
Open a

References

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  1. ^ West Ambae at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Aru, Carol Cecilia (2015). A Short Grammar of Duidui: A Language of West Ambae in Northern Vanuatu. University of the South Pacific.
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