Löyöp language
Austronesian language spoken in Vanuatu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Löyöp [løjøp] (formerly known as Lehalurup) is an Oceanic language spoken by about 240 people, on the east coast of Ureparapara Island in the Banks Islands of Vanuatu.[1][2] It is distinct from Lehali, the language spoken on the west coast of the same island.
| Löyöp | |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | [løjøp] |
| Native to | Vanuatu |
| Region | Ureparapara, formerly Rowa Islands |
Native speakers | 240 (2010)[1][2] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | urr |
| Glottolog | leha1244 |
| ELP | Löyöp |
 Löyöp is classified as Vulnerable by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. | |
The language was originally native to the Rowa Islands, having been brought to Ureparapara around the 1930s when a tsunami struck the Reef Islands and forced the speakers to relocate.[3]
It is considered a vulnerable language by UNESCO.
Name
The name Löyöp [løjøp] used since 2009[4][5][6] refers to the area called "Divers' Bay" in English, in the eastern part of Ureparapara. It derives from a Proto-Torres-Banks form *loroβi, with cognates in Lehali Loyēp [lɔjɪp]. The now-deprecated name Lehalurup once used by certain authors (e.g. Tryon) is likely a result from a transcription error, possibly under the influence of neighboring Lehali.
Phonology
Löyöp phonemically contrasts 16 consonants and 11 vowels.[6]
Consonants
Vowels
These are ten short monophthongs /i ɪ ɛ æ a œ ø y ɔ ʊ/, and one diphthong /i͡ɛ/.[5][6]
Grammar
The system of personal pronouns in Löyöp contrasts clusivity, and distinguishes four numbers (singular, dual, trial, plural).[7]
Spatial reference in Löyöp is based on a system of geocentric (absolute) directionals, which is in part typical of Oceanic languages, and yet innovative.[8]