Malua Bay language

Austronesian language spoken in Vanuatu From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Malua Bay (also called Middle Nambas) is an Oceanic language spoken in northwest Malekula, Vanuatu. It has two main dialects: one spoken in Malua Bay and the other spoken in Espiegles Bay.

NativetoVanuatu
RegionMalekula
Ethnicity720 (2001)[1]
Native speakers
500 (2009)[1]
Quick facts Native to, Region ...
Malua Bay
Middle Nambas
Native toVanuatu
RegionMalekula
Ethnicity720 (2001)[1]
Native speakers
500 (2009)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3mll
Glottologmalu1245
ELPMalua Bay
Malua Bay is not endangered according to the classification system of the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
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Classification

Malua, as an Oceanic language, belongs to the Austronesian language family. Furthermore, it belongs to the Malekula grouping within the Central Vanuatu subgroup, along with Nese, Botovro, Vovo, Vao, and others.[2]

Community

Malua is mainly spoken in Malua and Espiegles Bay, with a small amount of speakers in Port Vila. The majority of speakers are bilingual in Bislama, English, or French.[3]

Grammar

Malua contains a distinction between alienable and inalienable possession. Verbal predicates are marked for either realis or irrealis mood. It also exhibits nominative-accusative alignment.[4]

External links

References

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