Koro language (Vanuatu)

Austronesian language spoken in Vanuatu From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Koro is an Oceanic language spoken on Gaua island in Vanuatu. Its 280 speakers live in the village of Koro, on the south coast of Gaua.[2]

Pronunciation[kʊrʊ]
NativetoVanuatu
RegionGaua
Native speakers
250 (2012)[1]
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Koro is a distinct language from its immediate neighbours, Dorig (300 sp.) and Olrat (4 sp.).[3]

Name

The name Koro, spelled natively as Kōrō [kʊrʊ], is an endonym referring to the village.

Phonology

Koro has eight phonemic vowels. These include seven monophthongs /i ɪ ɛ a ɔ ʊ u/ and one diphthong /ɛ͡a/.[4]

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Near-close i iu u
Close-mid ɪ ēʊ ō
Open-mid ɛ eɔ o
Open a a
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The diphthong [ɛ͡a] is spelled as ä.

Grammar

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

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

Notes and references

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