Lemerig language
Austronesian language spoken in Vanuatu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lemerig is an Oceanic language spoken on Vanua Lava, in Vanuatu.
| Lemerig | |
|---|---|
| Pak, Päk, Sasar | |
| Pronunciation | [lɪmɪˈriɣ] |
| Native to | Vanuatu |
| Region | Vanua Lava |
Native speakers | 2 (2010)[1] |
| Dialects |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | lrz |
| Glottolog | leme1238 |
| ELP | Lemerig |
Lemerig is classified as Critically Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. | |
The language is no longer actively spoken, having receded in favour of its neighbors, including Vera'a and possibly also Mwotlap or Vurës.[1] The two remaining speakers live on the northern coast of the island.[2]
Name
The name Lemerig refers to a now abandoned village in northern Vanua Lava; it is spelled Lēmērig [lɪmɪˈriɣ] in the language of the same name. It reflects an earlier Proto-Torres-Banks form *lemeriɣi, where the *riɣi component likely means "small".
Dialects
Lemerig has sometimes been referred to using the names of its local varieties: Päk,[a] Sasar, and Alo-Teqel.
Judging from wordlists published by missionary and linguist Robert Codrington,[3] these three varieties were very close to each other. The little differences there were went extinct during the 20th century.
Phonology
Grammar
The system of personal pronouns in Lemerig contrasts clusivity, and distinguishes four numbers (singular, dual, trial, and plural).[6]
Most negative morphemes are discontinuous, wrapped around the predicate phrase: e.g. /(ɛʔ) … (k͡pʷæl) ʔæ/ (Negative realis ‘did~does not’), /(ɛʔ) … ʔæ kiʔi(s)/ (Nondumitive ‘not yet’), /mɛ … ŋ͡mʷæs-ʔæ/ (Negative potential ‘cannot’).[7] Historically, this pattern reflects an instance of Jespersen's cycle.[8]
Spatial reference in Lemerig is based on a system of geocentric (absolute) directionals, which is in part typical of Oceanic languages, in part innovative.[9]
Notes
- Päk [pæk] is a village on the north coast of Vanua Lava island, today often referred to using its Mwotlap name Abek [aᵐbɛk] (with locative). Due to its vowel [æ] (potentially ambiguous to Western ears), the original name in Lemerig was spelled Pak in Codrington 1885 (pp.39 sqq), but Pek in Codrington 1891 (p.81).