Malekula languages

Malekula
Geographic distribution:	Malakula, Vanuatu
Linguistic classification:	Austronesian Malayo-Polynesian Oceanic Southern Oceanic North Vanuatu Santo–Malekula Malekula
Subdivisions:	—

The two dozen Malekula languages are a group or groups of the North Vanuatu languages.

Languages

The Malekula languages have been divided into interior and coastal groups. However, this classification is not well supported. According to a 2008 analysis of the Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database, the interior and some of the coastal languages, such as Nahavaq, are related as a group, whereas the analysis found 70% support for including the coastal Nese language. Confidence was higher (90%) for the Santo–Malekula languages.

The traditional classification is,

Interior

• Ninde (Labo)
• Malekula Central languages
  • Big Nambas
  • Lingarak
  • Larevat
  • Litzlitz (Naman)
  • Maragus
  • Nasarian
  • Katbol (Avava)
  • Vinmavis (Neve'ei)
• Small Nambas languages
  • Dixon Reef
  • Letemboi
  • Repanbitip

Coastal

• Axamb
• Aulua
• Maskelynes
• Malua Bay
• Malfaxal
• Mae
• Mpotovoro
• Unua
• Rerep
• Port Sandwich
• Nahavaq (South West Bay)
• Uripiv-Wala-Rano-Atchin dialect chain
• Vao
• Burmbar
• Nese