Mavea language
Mavea (also known as Mav̋ea or Mafea) is an Oceanic language spoken on the island of Mavea in Vanuatu, off the eastern coast of Espiritu Santo. It belongs to the North–Central Vanuatu linkage of Southern Oceanic. The total population of the island is approximately 172, with only 34 fluent speakers of the Mavea language remaining as of 2008.[1]
Phonology
Mavea has 15 consonants and 8 vowels.[2]
Plosives in Mavea are not aspirated.[4]
Orthography
Linguolabial consonants are represented using the corresponding labial consonant with a diaeresis diacritic on top: p̋ [t̼]; v̋ [ð̼]; m̋ [n̼].[6] The retroflex [ɖ] is represented in the orthography as d.
Morphology
Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns in Mavea do not inflect for case or gender, but do show number (singular, dual, paucal, plural). First person non-singular has an inclusive/exclusive distinction. Independent personal pronouns are not obligatory, but are used for emphasis, contrast or focus.[7]
Person |
Number |
Singular |
Plural |
Dual |
Paucal |
1INC |
|
(n)ida |
darua/ô |
datol |
1EXCL |
na(o) |
kam̋am |
kam̋arua/o |
kam̋atol |
2 |
nno |
kam̋im |
kamruo/a |
kamtol |
3 |
nna |
nira |
rarua/o |
ratol |
Example:[8]
-
me |
ro |
nno |
me |
ko |
-l |
-suruv |
atano, |
na |
nao |
me |
ro |
ka |
suruv |
aul |
pere |
-n |
vuae |
FUT |
then |
2SG |
FUT |
2SG |
-IMPF |
-sleep |
ground |
but |
1SG |
FUT |
then |
1SG.IR |
-sleep |
above |
branch |
-CONS |
tree |
"You, you will sleep on the ground, but I, I will sleep in the tree" |
Bound Pronouns
Bound pronouns are obligatory at the beginning of a predicate phrase. Only 1SG and 3SG inflect for mood.[9]
Subject Agreement Markers[10]
Person |
Number |
Singular |
Plural |
Dual |
Paucal |
Realis |
Irrealis |
Realis and Irrealis |
1INC |
na- |
ka- |
da- |
dar- |
datol- |
1EXCL |
ki- |
kir- |
kitol- |
2 |
ko- |
ko- |
ki- |
kir- |
kitol- |
3 |
mo- |
i- |
ra- |
rar- |
ratol |
Object Enclitics[11]
Person |
Number |
Singular |
Plural |
1INC |
-ao |
(i)da |
1EXCL |
- |
2 |
-o |
- |
3 |
-a |
(i)ra |
Example:[12]
-
Varua |
nno |
ko-kolai=ao |
bird |
2SG |
2SG-lie=1SG |
"Cardinal, you lied to me" |
Notes
- ^ Guérin 2008: p. 2
- ^ Cf. Guérin 2011.
- ^ Guérin 2008: p. 30
- ^ Guérin 2008: p. 12
- ^ Guérin 2008: p. 30
- ^ Presentation of Mavea.
- ^ Guérin 2008: p. 76
- ^ Guérin 2008: p. 77
- ^ Guérin 2008: p. 77
- ^ Guérin 2008: p. 78
- ^ Guérin 2008: p. 78
- ^ Guérin 2008: p. 78
References
External links